The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-18

no end down the British Channel. The line Of
vessels that entered into direct competition with
Cunard 8, was projected by M Collins, Of New
York, and consisted of hye steamers OF 900 tons
burthen, 300 feet long, and propelled by engines OF
600 horse power They are named after the
various oceans OF the world-ths Atlantic, Pacific,
Arctic, Baltic, and Adriatic. They are longer and
more powerful than any steamer yet built, except
the Great Britain, and their competition Is not 10
be treated lightly. The merits Of the rival lines
soon became national ques ion. The citizens OF
the great republic spoke confidently of the superior
speed their vessels would attain; the best builders
of ships and makers of marine engines were, they
said, to be found in New York, and they were de-
termined that the Hudson river should always be
ahead of the rest of the world in the power and
speed Of its steam navy. A statement of the re-
sources of New York gave good reason for this con-
hdent bOaslng In that city the principal foundries,
eight In number, where marine engines are con-
structed, employ about 1915 men at one, and that
not the largest, 100 tons Of iron are melted every
month and at another the value OF the work sent
out in 1919 as above million of dollars (e2O 00O);
while in one month OF the past year, there were
in progress at the same establishment marine en-
eines for eight vessels. W hose aggregate tonnage
was Ia, 100. The performances of the Washing
ton and Hermann were highly creditable to the
skill Of American engineers, and there seemed
great probability that Britannia would not much
longer rule the waves But, on the other hand,
the feat which these American sniPs we're expect
ed 10 perform was of no ordinary difficulty. For
ten years Cunard's line had navigated the Atlantic
with regularity aud speed which il would be ex-
ceedingy difficult even to equal and though the
more powerful American ships might sail faster,
was it TO be expected that the builders and eu-
gineers Of the Clyde, with Mr. Card and Mr.. Ma
pier at their head, would be unable to maintain
the superiority they had alre ady acquired The
town where James Watt was born, and the river
that received the first British steamboat, were not
likely TO resign without struggle pre- eminence
ACQUIRED by go much labor and ingenuity
While people were discussing the subject, and
laying wsgers on the voyages, The frs OF Collins
line, the Atlantic, sailed from New York on the
9th April As the time of her arrival at Liver
pool drew near, the interest felt by the people of
that town in the voyage became intense. After
the time occupied the shortest Of any of the
old vessels h ID expired, aud no Atlantic had cone
up the MeIsey, the partisans OF the Clyde steam
ers took heart, and began 10 think that the comps-
tition was not 20 be SO formidable, after ALL They
were further confirmed in this idea, when, on the
thirteenth day after she had left New York, the
Atlantic vas telegraphed off Holyhead. For some
time before her arrival, small tug steamer, with
a number of commercial men and newspaper re-
porters on board, had been waiting In the Mersey,
ready to steam out to meet the Atlantic. The sun
setting this little steamer sailed, and night
had come on before the Atlantic appeared in the
river AS she came up, her great black hull look
ing blacker and larger in the darkness she seemed
less like a steamer made by human hands, and
more like an island drifting in from the ocean.
No entrance to the Liverpool docks was suffi-
GENTLY WI lie to admit the Atlantic, and she and her
consorts had to lie in the river until new dock
that had been preparing for them, with entrance
gates eighty feet wide, was finished The length
Of the voyage of the Atlantic accounted for by
detention Of nearly two days. caused by accidents
to the machinery. The Pacific, Arctic, and Baltic,
have already crossed The "big ferry" and the Adn-
ATTIC is expected to be ready tor sea early in 1851.
Thus was commenced that rivalry which has
made giganlc race course of the Atlantic ocean
"a race course so long, THAI the difference ia the
gtude Of its termini makes difference Of near
ly five hours in the time OF day; and thus, while
people at the American end are rising from their
beds, those at the European have got through much
Of their days work. The styling horse Childers,"
and other notables of the turf, have done great
significance compared with the performances Of
steamer propelled by power equal to that of
thousand horses, sailipg three hundred miles each
day over angry restless waves, twenry-four, and
some lines forty-three feet high, chasing each
other al dis ance of about five hundred feet, and
al speed Of more than thirty miles an hour. All
The prizes Of the turf are palry compared with that
for which these steamers are contending-the
proud distinction Of establishing the most speedy
and safe communication between two great CONT
rents and two mighty nations.
1.-The vessels Of the Collins line have met with
sumo accidents during the winter tn tell much
against them when the years work is summed up.
The Baltic, in one Of Ter outward voyages, ran
short OF coalr, and had to put into q port before
reaching New York to obtain fresh supply, by
which u detention of some days was caused, and
The Atlantic, on her outward voyage, while in lati
tude 10 deg IL min. north, and Longitude Al deg.
80 min. west, or much more than halfway across
the AlduUC, DIOkt, Oh the vi Otu JANUARY,
the centre beam OF shaft of the engines which con
sequently be came useless. The vessel proceeded
under canvass for five days, against heavy wester-
ly gaes, but finding that she made little way, the
captain put the ship about, and for Cork. which
WIS reached on the 22t January. The Cambria,
belonging TO the Cupsrd line, the only available
steamer the in the M.rsey or perhaps 10 gland,
for Atlantic winter navigation, was Immediately
chartered TO proceed to COX, and carry the cargo,
&c, OF the Atlantic To America We alude to this
dissser simply as ct; we would her ympa.
thise with the citizens Of the United States, 10
whom il will doubtless caute much chagrin, than
exult IL proof at Inc inferior skill Of our
transatlantic brethren. The accident proves very
liule but it will doubtless be extensively used OF
rather abused, by the partizans Of the contending
lines Many people in New York seem To thiuk
that there is a feeling Of hostility 10 the Old coua-
try against the sc steamers, and complaints have al
ready been made that justice mas not been done to
the by the British press. Never had CON- plants
less foundation. As British citizens, we cannot
race British ships may win but we are conittn
national feeling has been lees ob,ruded, and there
mas been less Boosting about the merits OF the
chips this eide of the Alantic than on the other.
We trust that the arrival Of the Cambria At New
York with The mails and cargo Of the Aila0tic will
not only relieve the minds Of many who mast he
learDg that the later has met the same fate the
President, bit will also convince them that the
rivalry is prosecuted on our part IN a generous aud
manly sprlt.
The Prctenders 60 the Crown OF France.
IL would appear that the fusion OF interests so
long contemplated between the elder an younger
branches Of the House OF Bourbon has at length
bee accomplished, aud that Legitims,s ana Or.
leanists are henceforth to labor in unison for the
restoration OF Henry V. The Princes OF the
House Of Orleans have at length Withdrawn any
prctensions they might hope to found on the revo-
luton Of 1880 and the succession OF Louis Philippe.
and have intimated their readiness to joia heart
and hand in the re.establshment Of the throne IN
the person Of the representative Of the elder
branch. The ex.Queen Marie Ameie has )ined
in the movement, and the only one VINO still holds
out is the Duchess Of Orleans, who cannot be an.
due, to think that the claims OF the COmte ie
Paris should be postponed for even generation,
and who still labors under the delusion that, in
very short time, he will he recalled by the whole
OF the French nation. Letters ANNOUNCING this
important events have been received in Pane, and
communicated to the leaders Of the two sections
OF the monarchical parties at a meeting held
sh ort time ago at the house Of the ar luis DE- Pas
toret. The reconciliation lat least as regards the
leaders) is complete, and henceforth the disuuc-