The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-08-20

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We believe that il will not be disputed that
the American steamship Baltic has just com
Melted the shortest passage ever made from Eu-
rope to this city. The time is yariously computed
from twenty down To thirteen hours over nine
DAYS; we make it nine days and nineteen hours
of actual, OF nine days fourteen hours and a few
minutes Of apparent time, counting from her
casting off the Liverpool boat that brought her
the European mails, to her arrival abreast of the
Battery. We believe her own chronometer makes
the time few minutes short Of this. But If we
count from her passage off the bar in the Mersey
below Liverpool, (Which We understand is usu-
ally done,) her apparent time is reduced to thr-
teen, and her mean time to eighteen hours over
nine days. But for the mishap OF losing some
ten or twelve floats paddles from her wheels,
this time would have been considerably short
ened, although she necessarily lost time by a
heavy fog on the banks, aud encountered adverse
winds thence to this city. The tide was very
strong against her, from Sandy Hook up to her
berth, as indeed il had been along the coast OF
Long Island for some hours before reaching the
Hook
The first two or three days of the voyage
were fair and pleasant, with light, favorable
winds from the northeast and southeast The
next three days were less agreeable, being cloudy,
and in good part stormy, but the winds were still
fair; and at midnight of the 18th, (the sky hav-
ing cleared) she made Cape Race, New Found
land, bearing Il miles due north--being several
hours sooner than that Cape was ever before
made from Liverpool. Cape Pine light, and the
whole Newfoundland coast, for 20 or 80 miles,
were distinctly seen. But the skies were over
cast again cary on the 18th; the wind shifted
and blew thenceforth from the west or south
west, directly in our good ships teeth, 30 that
her sails were scarcely set thenccforth. Wed
nesday night and Thursday were very thick,
compelling her to run with great caution, and to
lose time by bearing off her direct course to be
sure Of abundant sea-room. The wheels were
stopped for some minutes on Thursday, in order
to send despatch into Halifax, to be telegraphed
to New York, by small schooner then in sight,
but she refused to be spoken. A few hours
later, the weather being extremely thick, fish
ing vessel was discovered just under the Bal
ties bows, and was with great difficulty avoided.
She escaped without injury.
Friday morning opened fair, though with the
wind still ahead at 10 o'clock two vessels were
deserted, one of which was a merchantmen
making for Massachusetts bay; the other New
York pilot schooner, mo g. some miles to the
southwark. The Baltic Immediately stood for
her, and took on board pilot under whose charge
she resumed her course, and made the welcome
lights of Neversink and Sandy Hook little
past this morning. At she was abreast of
the Light-ship, stopped at quarantine to receive
the visit Of the health officer, came abreast of
the Battery few minutes past 6, and at half
past was discharging her mails at the Canal
street dock. Thus ended the swiftest passage
ever made across the Atlantic, though the sue
cessive breaking of her floats, two or three per
day for the last three or four days, had some
what retarded her speed.
The number Of passengers was quite large
148, including children among them were some
distinguished citizens from various sections of
the country. The passage was on the whole in
teresting and agreeable, though shaded by one
painful accident Capt. Edwin Wales, aged 81,
(son of L. B. Wales, esq, of Boston,) died
on Friday morning, having been dangerously
ill when he came on board, and rapidly sinking
ever since. His disease was chronic diarrh9a,
and so serious as to leave no hope of his re-
covery from the first.
Capt Comstock's health was proposed and
received with enthusiasm at the dinner table on
the last day of the passage, and brief speeches
in commentator of his consummate seamanship
and untiring energy were made by Archbishop
Purcell, Rev. II. p. Peet, Capt. J. c. Delano, II.
Greeley and others. Capt. G handsomely ac-
knowledged the compliment, remarked that a
sailor needs no other reward than the conscious
ness that he has done his duty. We believe
the passengers have concluded that some slight
testimonial of their own sense of obligation
may be fifty added and that the engineers of the
Baltic will also be remembered. Tribune.