Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-09-27

wish for Il !Gorc prolonged intercourse. Expect
to hear from me among the hills OF Savoy, in
Switzerland. aud believe me yours,
TRANrTAToRr.
THE TRI.L TRIP OF THE GREAT EASTERN.
frarnrn rsG:,ciLARs.-The English papers
BY the Arabia contain full accounts of the sail
ing Of ,hc monster steamship Great Eastern
upon Lcr t.:al trip The correspondent Of the
Time, writir. iiom Purilcct, September eth,
after describing the busy scenes connected with
the c,o>;ng preparations, the stationing Of oi!i'
GERS at various points, &c., says:
Precisely at quarter past seven the last moor
irss were let 70 hu. aS at this time the sweep
Of the tide had turned the great ships bows III,
so rs Ia point rather in shore of the Scamcns
Hospital ship. il was necessary TO turn her
slowly aStcrn to get sufficient room to round
the very sharp curve Of the river below Green
wicll. The screw engines started first, work.
ing beautifully. without noise. heat, Or even ap-
parent vibration. and when the paddle ma
chincrv c,nc into play, a few revolutions sui
feed 10 get her head round 10 the point re-
ouirci licn ~, the order given to goahead
slowly, and tor the first t!mc the Great Eastern
started inio motion. and with the slow majestic
beat oi her hue l,,i'ilcs moved grand!y down
the river Thc general public had evidently
put but little faith III the announcement that
She would leave the iIyer yesterday, 30 that
until the preparations were made for actually
leaving there was li,ac stir upon the river
Gradually. however. as the stcam-tug began to
,hn;- IN
seemed suddenly to break upon the amphibous
population NJ bOlh sides Of the stream that they
were "a, last abcut to lose = vessel whose pre-
scu,c has made Deptiord and the Isle Of Dogs
iunp.i, throughout the world. Then cnsued
an extraordinary scene. Thousands upon thou
sands ol people were seen rushing to the river
side from al points.
lioai> Of every Kind and size were launched
crowdc,. 10 the waters edge, and the stream
and its banks seemed suddenly instinct with
life. T,cre were not so much cheers as con-
tinuouS ,houtn.-a genuine outburst Of enthu-
slasrn and delight Even the wan and sickly
inmates of the Scamen's lIospital-ship turned
out upon tic deck. or crowded the ports with
their worn faces. to give orc shout or wave 4
cap 10 the vessel which swept so grandly by.
The very first turn at Greenwich showed Capt.
Harrison and all the officers Of the vessel that
the crca, ship waS as thoroughly under COM
manG n a river steamboat, and that the only
difficulty 10 he overcome, or rather to contend
against, was her length in turning the sharp
curves Of the river ut Greenwich, Blackwell and
Woolwich. The vessels draught WAS 2l feet
10 inchc, ait, and ~ feet three inches forward;
about the very worst trim in which she could
have left her noolingS, being down by the head
tYc inches Instead III some five feet down by
the Stern iN.rn,y-threc or twcnty-iour feet
may appear uo great depth OF water, but when
it i, Icrol,ctc, that this was the minimum
rcaiircG =; tie turning, and over length OF
$40 fcc; which is more than the breadth OF the
Thames at Westminster. it will be seen at once
that these angles were at first regarded with a
certain amount of anxicty and dStrust.
:, !ew moves of the vessel, however, showed
that She was perfectly in hand. She stecrcd
Il, easily as wager boat, and her engines were
found apahlc of starting her into motion or
al1c.,lng her progress literally almost by sim
.lc movement of the land. At Greenwich, on
both sides ol lhc river, an immense multitude
had collected but il was at Blackwail that the
first really great ovation was made The news
Of her departure had spread far and last, and
from the deck o. the great ship the shores
could hc seen ut Bacl.wall Point literally dark,
cncd by people Every house was crowded and
the rooi, covered with spectators; the mast
house was occupied tic pier swarlned the tops
and wards Of tie vessels in the docks seemed
alive. KS the great ship approached the enthu
sia>m seemed 10 pass the bounds which ordi
nalily mark such displays with Englishmen.- -
The dense illa~S chccrcd, shouted, waved hats
shawlS, handkcrchciS, with an a5aH,t0a oil sra
t;iica,iun that was hcart-stirring. II was really
almost y NATIONAL reception, and all seemed u
have, H. Enclshlncn, share III the iinest
swiitrst. strongest and handsomeS; ship th'
world has vet seen. There was but one draw
back on the enthusiasm and happiness OF those
vino were on board. which was caused 10y th(
absence Of the eminent man to whom the con
ccption OF the ship was duc-Mr. Brunei. y
severe illness prevented his being present a
the first triumph Of tic grandest idea which
has ever been originated in naval architecture
Blackwell point was indeed the turning pom
( in the fortunes of the Great Eastern. The rive
at this place forms an acute angle, round whlcl
( the tide sweeps with strong but most unequa
force The admirable manner in which Cap
, tain Harrison, and the pilot Mr.. Atkinson, man
aged the slip tie power and regularity Will
which the engines worked would, II lett un
/ oi,s,iUctci. have soon got the vessel round thu
i,!acc; but. ul course, right in the centre Of tn
rlycr balh, the Kingfsher was meorcd
while 4 It'll. beyond her lay q schooner in sue
!. manner H. ctlcctuaily TO block up the ''fai
wav" down the stream. The tugs were signal
/ cd to .et the Great Eastern's head round, ali
/ tried 10 IL so. bat the strain was too nnucl-a
the mos; critical moment two Of the hawscr
parted. and for y few minutes the noble SeSse
was. beyond Il doubt. in Il perilous position a
the sweep oc the tide was strong and IN al
instant drove her towards the shore. Nothin:
but the grcat power of her own eng'he
saved her here, though it was uellca''
mattcr To Use them properly IL was reIcssa. al
instantly to ccIn;cract the influence VI 'ne ''u'
and .ct her head OF shore, but ~ 'nc sam
tl.;.. To do 81 III such manner IL, "ou'u i,o
.;.r n.v enough to take her on shorc OH ,n
upra,>i', sile OF the river Fortunately 'iii
WA. effected: frc-h '.tw>'r> were passeu 10 III
,u... the barauc ,..s cau>e OF all the peru
.brr,eL her ai.c'.or. and after an anxious della,
cr Some ten or !iit.,a minutes. the Great East
crn worked slowly around and turned the poin
or danger. This was .r"'t relief to all o.
ho,rl and 10 none more ~ :'la: Nessrs. CamI
bel, and Jackson, the managing directors, bot
of whom had been inccssantly occupied tn
previous day and III hit in looking to all the al
rangcments for the first departure. The me
ment the point was safely passed carrier-pgeon
were sent up from the vessel and the shore
spread the welcome news.
At Woolwich there was, Of course, tire
dous concourse Of spectators, Every si0