New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-12
MARINE AFFAIRS.
THE LAUNCH OF THE LEvIATHAN.
F,o,. The mechanic.' Mo9arine.

THE LAUNCH OF THE LEvIATHAN.
Fror- The Mechanic. Mo9aEias
Mr. Brunei has not been altogether unfamiliar with
failures; but failure of his did ever so much 10
lower the reputation of English engineers as the launch
of the Levisthan. Having frst, by the construction
of that enormous vessel concentrated the attention OF
the world upon him. he has now presented to 1t the
most costly example of folly that was ever seen. Wa
ever such a spectacle witnessed "a thousands upon
thousands have for weeks past behed on the Thames
an English engineer, at the head OF multitudes OF
mechanics and aborers breaking pOnderous engines.
rrndiug enormous cables, crushing solid masses OF
timber bursting strong iron vessels, forcing up the
soil tearing up the very bed of the river, expendng
running the vessel herself spreading terror around
importing life-keepng this up day after day week
alter week, and even month alter month, and all IN
order merely TO lower slp from the shore to the
river Ii is our imperative duty 10 endeavOr to transfer
the disgrace Of such from English engineering
science to the individual engineer who is alone re-
sponrbe for it. Ifhe scene had been connected with
an undertaking of the Government, thousand jour
mails would have teemed with reprOach and iuyectve.
II the Admiralty happen even to purchase ship
which, after time turns out bad mon cannot refrain
from seeking to trace the fault to some unhappy pab-
lie servant and 20 visit him with becoming retribu-
tiup. Why then. should the press pass unnotced the
bunders of private individual who has far out
stripped the Encouragement with which any Govern
ment executed work of plain practical engineer
iDg1
The question to be asked is, why was the Levis-
than built where she il flor cannot here discuss
in the abstract.) Recent experience both in our
Ockyards and in America has shown that the launch
ing of ships much less in weight than the Levatban
is sometimes attended with difficulties which not
easily overcome: such, for example, the stoppage
OF the ship upon the ways in the case OF the Caesar
at Pembroke Dock, the Marlborough at Portsmouth,
and the Queen of the Pacific at New-YOrk.
In all these cases. moreover, the ship was launched
enEbwise, in the usual manner, that the weight
easily distributed over large surface than
when sidelaunching has to be resorted to. With
Co.a L.E.. nd
altogether unnecessary display of sefconidence in
Mr. Brunei to build the ship where she is. particu-
larry the of the river and the populous
Of its banks rendered rapid launch extremely
dangerous. Beside the influence which the nhereut
dfficul'ie Of the must have exerted upon Mr..
Brunei the further influence OF professional dissua-
sion was are informed, brought 10 bcar upon his
judgment At the Institution Of CIVIL Engineers, be-
fore the shin was commenced, strong adverse opn-
ions were, We told, expressed to him by several
influential members Of that cultivated and expe-
repced body but without effect; and il is even ru-
mored TINT chalk pit the Thames was offered
the company MS a dock 10 build the ship in for total
rental of ElOOOo, the owner undertaking TO tit it
with suitable gates, &c, for the purpose. But
whether this be true not, Mr. Brunels best friend
m he have friends, Of which intercourse with en-
gineers renders doubtfu cannot question that the
construction of such ship upon such spot as that
selected was most rash and imprOydent A guitabla
dock would have cost far less than the launch has
cost. The exhibition of himself, mounted upon ros.
trum, with signal flags in his hands, amid thousands
of spectators at grand launch. hardly be consid-
cred to have weighed greatly with Mr.. Brunei ia Sc
lccting the site, he supposed capable of
having foreseen the august presence Of the Siamese
EmbsssadOrs
Some persons will probably think these statements
of ours might have been made earlier with advantage
This we do not believe. We certainly should have
made them when the first failure occurred with the
launch but We thought IT would be moro graceful 10
defer them until the vessel WAS aioat That event
has, however, been 20 long postponed that IL SEEING
imprudent to wait longer for II. Had We made such
statements at the outset of the vessels construction
they would not have turned Mr.. Brunei from his pur.
pose and could have had no other effect than that of
fingng the heavy pecunary burden which has now
to be borne upon the shoulders Of fewer shareholders
The next question for consideration is why has Mr.
Brunei having built his ship where she H. been 40
utterly unsuccessful in the launching Of herr In the
hrst place, he has, in opinion made fatal inno-
yati0D by introducing iron rails his sideways and
iron plates on his bgeways. Whatyearthly adyan-
age over large surface of smooth creased wood did
he expect 20 get out OF small surface OF rough RUSTY
iron This question Mr.. Brunei will not. in al
probability, answer Iii bis part, and according 10
The Buiider OF Saturday last it is the part of Mr.
Yates, the COmpanys Secretary, also 10 treat tho
press with contempt and TO cast the cash Of the Com
pany into the river Thames with the utmost Ibersty.
But unit! Mr.. Brunei or some else does answer
the question, there IL no more ~ be said upon the
choice OF the iron rails. Mr.. Brunei preferred them,
you may depend ont Mr.. Brunei preferred them,
ana there's All end ont. Even the shareholders will
not, we lear, get beyond this point.
Iron surfaces having been chosen, the proper inch
nation to be given the sideways the next point
to be cCDsdered and here there was an opportunity
for a little judicious assumption and calculation. Be-
csuse, although the iron iron would produce an i'm
amount Of friction this might be provided for
by giving suitable inclination 10 the slideways
Hefe, however, nothing has been done with any toler-
sbe approximation to the truth. So small is the in
cnatiOn, compared with the inclination reqdired.
that all the combined powers yet brought TO bear upon
the ship have failed to get her TO tho water; and it
seems AZ If all the Kings horses and all the Kings
men viii be required before the task is accomplished
Where then 10 Mr. Brunel's engineering ability. II he
fail thus utterly upon such point But he has not
mistaken the inclination only. He is equally at fault
The after cradle has to sustain much more than mn
half the weight of the ship. The consequence is a. we
said in former article the friction upon the sidswsys
is most unequal and the ship twists upon the ways,
and thus adds still more to the difficulty Of moving
her twill, perhaps. be scarcely believed although
perfectly true, thnt, some days since, Mr.. Brunsa
sctualy had two or three hundred tuns Of water
placed in the forepa Of the ship in order to gs nd q
this evil and this is the whore the weigh. Is tho