The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-11

Viz the Cape Of Good Hope ............. ld,slS
Gibraltar, Malta, Alexandria H. Aden Point '
de Gale, and Singapore, including transit
through Egypt. ........................l IL, 034
Panama, including transit across the
The General Association for the Australian
colonies have indeed recommended for the mail line
the overland route as far as Alden, and from
thence by way OF Diego Garcia. and King Georges
Sound to Melbourne, an estimated distance Of
lO34s miles, which they fancy can be done in
forty-four days. If the Eastern Steam Ship Com
pany have not anticipated too great speed for their
vessel-and we scarcely think they have done 50,
considering that the Persia has made fourteen and
half knots with very far inferior powers OF propulsion
this passage will be beaten by between eight aud
ten days without the expense and trouble OF making
o long land journey across the isthmGs. Surely
this, il it comes to pass, will 60 far to accomplish
the Alnaschar dream of the Times, that the period
vii! arrive when we shall be able to communicate
with our friends at the antipodes in month.
As far as the commercial part OF the speculation
gees, we are Of course incapable of giving an opn-
len. The value Of the exports to the young empire,
which is springing up with such rapdity in Polyne.
value ieSs we osnn ns e eeoss
there would be any lack of cargo even for our le
viathan. That she will be par excellence the emi
grant ship, who can doubt when we find that, with
all her splendid accommodation, she will be able to
take passengers of the first class for f65, of the
cond class for $780, and of the third class Tor f25
Her great proportions will indeed almost deceive
in some noble mansion. Let US imagine her saloons
blazing at night with gas, which will be manufac-
tured on beard and supplied to every part OF the shp
let us picture to ourselves her agnifcent sweep OF
deck filed with gay promenaders listening to the
band as she sails over summers sea; annoyed by
no smoke, for, in consequence of the use of anthra
cite coal, none will be emitted from her five funniest
and distressed by no motion, as in consequence OF
her length she will stride with the waves
of the Pacific We might also dwell for moment
upon the mighty larder Of our leviathan prepared
for her fight of five and thirty days, without stop
page, across the ocean desert with whole town on
| board or we might draw q comparison between her
and the Ark (Which by.theby had not half her ca.
| pacity), as she receives on board her hocks and
herds to furnish fresh meat for the passage. But
we believe we have said enough to enable those who
have not visited the rising edfce to realise the vast
extent of this latest experiment in ship building.
And as contrast to this fair side OF the medal, let
us fancy her rushing through the night in full career
An arrow $4,000 tons in weight, propelled by q
bow Of 5000 horse power. Can we, without shud-
der, contemplate the possibility Of q collision with
such resistess force? line Of battle ship with Q
thousand hands on beard cleft in two as swiftly as
the apple by the shaft of Tell.
Every precauton will indeed be taken to avert such
a catastrophe The electric light will be fixed at
the masthead, SO that in dark nights the ship will
carry moonlight atmosphere wherever she goes.
In case of any fatal injury to herself, which could
not we'll happen, boats have been provided capable
Of taking Oft her passengers, even If counted by
thousands. Thus she will have two screw steamers
OF SO feet in length, paddle box boat, and in ad-
ditiOn to these she will carry large number OF the
new colapsing, or bellows boats, as the sailors call
them. These curious structures, the invention o.
the Rev. E. L. Berthon, expand and shut like Gibus
hat or the hood of carriage, occupying SO little
room that half dozen of them Of large size can
be slowed away in the same space as would be oc
cupied by ordinary jolly boat, and seem to be as
easily opened as parasol or umbrella.
II we mistake not the success Of the Great Eastern
will constitute new era in the art of aggressive
war. We question whether Eorope during the
| course of the present contest has not been more
stuck by our enormous power of moving suddenly
large masses of men from one end of Europe to
another, than by any other operation which we have
performed. The Hlm1alaya as she steamed up the
anG the cloud Of steamers and sailing vessels which
carried the allied army to the shores Of the Crmea
| has been dwelt upon as an exposition OF maritime
magnifcence such as the world never witnessed be
fore. What will Thereafter say when we tell him that
| five vessels such as the Great Eastern could bring
home our SO 600 troops from the Crinlea, with al
their artillery and baggage, in the course OF ten OF
twelve days?