The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-10
The Masn,neens New Steamship Empire
Cltv.

This truly spendid steamship makes her trial trip
to-day from tne foo Of Ninth street, where she
has been ittine up since she WIS launched. Her
steam up Saturday, and her powerful en-
CINE was fou nd to WORK we'll She will sail round
Sandy Hook, starting at IL O'Clock, and return
to pier No. 2, Nerth River, where she will remain
I'LL she sails for Chagres on the l7th inst. Nearly
all her berths are llreaiy aged, and long before
the appointed Gay not one will remain to be dis
posed of.
She has been built to match the Crescent City,
bur far superior in every res ect. 1t Is calcua ed
that in her sailing qualities she will beat anything
ahoat. With mould of perfect beauty, she is ire
mendously Strengthen plank being boarded edge
ways. Her burlhea is about 1000 tons. She
draws l2a feet of water, and her length is PA feet,
and 40 feet beam. She has hurricane deck ex-
tending the entire length and breadth of the vessel,
and cons tuning a grand promenade in fine
weather. This is a novelty in an ocean steamer,
peculiar to the Empire City, and serves another
purpose equally novel and important. Being sup
ported by stanchions from the high and massive
buwarks, it constitutes canopy to the passen-
gers pronenadng at either side of the magnificent
rooms erected on the entire length of the main
deck, giving them the free air, while it protects
them either from the sun or ram, and also from
being wet with the waves IN the event of a heavy
sea, for there canvas curtains which can be
drawn down from the side of the hurricane deck to
the buwarks, and thus the water can be completely
shut out.
This is the first ocean vessel with house on
deck extending from stem to stern.
1t is divided as follows The ladies' saloon or
reception room, which is not yet quite finished,
Judging from what Is already done, will ex-
coed in richness and beaury even the best
room Of the New World, and that is saying much
for it. The tables, the sofas, the lounges, the
conversation, arm and other chairs-the gliding
of the cornces and pillars and above all, the gor-
geous mirrors with which the room is hung all
round, the frames and gliding of the most exqui-
site workmanship and finish, with eegent Italian
marble slabs some of them upon frames of
great beauty, give some idea of what this room
will be in few days. The loungers, sofas, and
chairs of the finest rosewood, upholstered with
damask satin in purple and gold. The panels of
the doors 10 the berths oil this rOOm are adorned
with beautifully painted landscapes, some of them
the finest IN the country, including scenes along
the Hudson, with the craft sailing up and dowH
the river, "done to the life. This room is covered
with Il superb oil cloth, In imitation of Turkey
carpet, but tar more useful for such a voyage
ever saw in any ship; indeed, there are very few
hotels have such kitchen range. In general, the
kitchens i'll vessels miserable holes, but this Is
an apartment into which one would take plea
III going. Ii Is large and spacious and
every variety Of cooking utensils and apparatus
that can be imagined will be found there.
The next apartment we came to, and forward of
this, Is a room thlrty-fve feet long, which has
already been chrlstened "Socia Hail." from it's
being the iavorlte part of the ship, where men can
smoke and make merry, and be at their ease
in. way they would not like to do in the
saloons. This a new feature. also, the space
occupied by this room being generally taken up
with Kitchen and companion Way. There is a fine
range of berths OIL this room, on either side The
officers Of the vessel will sleep there.
There remains but the forecastle to describe on
this deck and the same attention to the comforts
OF the seamen evinced for those of the passengers
is vislsle In the space and airlncss gwen to it.
There IL a division into two parts-one tor each
watch. Tins apartment Is quite superior to any,
thing of the kind We nave seen IN any other vessel
Descending from the main deck to what is gene
rally called the CABIN, We find, right under the fore
castle, a very handsomely fitted up apartment for
the walters and servants of the boat-an accom-
mediation seldom found In steamboats,, these unfor-
tunate people being often doomed to sleep under a
table, or any place they can find.
Aft Of this is the dining room, magnificently fur
nlshed, and having elegant bedrooms with two
berths IN each the carpet in each room, as in
all the other bedrooms, being different from any
other in the boat.
Next comes a splendid pantry, furnished with
every requisite, and a handsome marble slab for
baking pastry. There is peculiarly in It we have
not observed IN any other vessel, but which is TO
be found at some OF the best hotels. There are
bel-wires leading TO II from every room and berth
In the boat, and there Is instrument with which
they are connected, having brass crescent-shaped
plate about the size OF a quarter dollar, having a
number corresponding with the number of the
room, and To which wire from each room is at
tached. Ii lies with the convex side down before
the bell is rung. When the wire is pulled, the
crescent becomes reversed, and the concave side is
down, that If the should not be the re at the
time of ringing, he afterwards ascertain from
what room the bellwasrun with glance ofthe eve
We now come TO the after saloon, and this room I
we would back for taste and elegance against any
room IN any other steamer IN the world. Like th, |
rooms on the main deck, II is carpeted with the |
richest oil cloth Its sofas are Of rose wood and |
lounges aud chairs to match, of the same material |
and pattern, They are covered with the most
costly damask. There is very ingenious contri- |
vance, both as saving OF room, and as contribut-
ing to elegance A large sofs the entire breadth of
the room, made in crescent form To fir exactv
10 The shape OF the stern Of the boat which il at
ached THIS soii,lk The Others s Of the most SUI
peru description. But the doors TO the state bed /
rooms, oil he saloon, exceed IN beauty anything we
ever beh, Id. The panels Of the finest satin wood
enhanced with zebra; the stiles, rails circles and |
pillars If rosewood; the latter Of the Corinthian
order the gliding OF the finished d. scrlpiioa
But the chlef beauty OF these doors is the fine
paintings aud portraiure IN the centre Of
each, taken, for the most part, from Washington
lnngs Sketch Book IS The Yankee SCHOOL,
master rs admirable. On the forward wall of
this saloon two fine paintings one OF New
Orleans, with the shipping seen from Agiers. and
another Of New York, exhibiting the bay and
Governors Island, with Staten Island in the dis
lance. The bedrooms Ut either side of this
saloon are quite IN Keeping with it, The furniture
is OF the most costly description The ware is the
very beet china Handsome mirrors are 10 be
found IN each room. But, what Is most impor-
liant, they are as well lighted AS any drawiup-room
seed be. There are large windows IN each, with
,lsss inch thick, which eau be kept open to admit
ar when the weather ~ fine, and secured by
means Of n screw, IN the event ct n storm,
These rooms contain each four berhs. The
sirs from the man deck to the saloon be-
ow are OF the best black walnut.
Nothing Is waning to complete in this vessel, the
ombInation her spirited and entcrprising owners,
Howard n Son, and their excellent agent, Mr.
Morgan, designed to accomplisl-a combination
y slIenglh, beauly and elegance. with security.