, 1859-11-29
Dtc9$ T1.ihttttt.


The Grcat EASTERN n Failure.
[f-o7 the Lostoa Tine. et .:uy. s,h1
When the Great Eastern accomnlished her
trip 10 HolF head Wc were informed that po.hiut,
could exceed the SUCCESS Of the creat cxpert.
neat, aud tlia: thu results left nothing to be de-
sireo: Nesertht!css We preferred to look into
the matter ioF ourselves. Neither in speed nor
~ sol1dNy,lt We 1n:y use the expression. did
the eFes. snip appear to US to realize oil tilt We
nhd been taught to expect from her. Therefore,
with the NOS. sincere good will to the under
TAXING we still felt 1t our duty 10 give currency
TO these opinions, aud 10 warn the public to sus-
neud their judgment until further trials had put
the success Of this norcl experiment in naval
architecture above the reach Of dispute.
Inc Great Eas'ern has. we arc happy to say;
returned in perfect safety fro1, Holyhead, and
rests sur while at peace in the southampton
WAFER. End re are now in condition to form
some better opinion as to the capabilities Of the
! great ship. We hare undoubtedly right to
expect taat The advantages which the Great
Eastern holds out should be exceedingly great
indeed. beyond all comparison greater than
| those which can be derived from the largest
| men now afoat, fur those advantages, whstese9,
they may BE-. ara bought With very considerable
sacrifices. First, there is the difficulty ubout
harbors; the size Of the ycssl excludes her, as
We understand, from New York. Boston and tie
St Lawrence, and sends her to Portland, d small
town upwards Of hundred miles from Boston,
three hundred and forty front New York, and
! more than lwo hundreI from Quebec. The ccle-
hra'ed.harbor Of Sydney, in Australia, would
be unable to receive her, and she would not
| BE- able TO approach Calcutta Not only does
this interfere with her choice Of port fnr pt.-
manent traffic; 1t a'sn exposes ner 10 danger,
By rendering !, impossible, in case Of injury, to
| Ind ir:use in ports in Which smaller vessels
/ could lie securely. Then the size Of the vessel
jncrpaHeR the rsk IN the s1t,rehoIiarc 1,r es,1-
| ins ou q single cast i vessel which ID d wt"!e
/ feet IN i.scit.
Another sacrifice must be the great consump-
ton Of coal, and the very large humber Of the
| crew, which impose very heavy expense be-
fore profit can ba realized or loss avoided.
1t seems established that, with her present
/ power, the coal consumed by the Great East
| ern cannot be calculated at less than three
hundred tons q dag. Such vessel, If she
makes few yoyages without being titled up
| would severely drain the resources Of her pro-
| prietors, and must, indeed, make erery "Trip
difficulties aud drawbacks were, no doubt, care-
fully considered nndc1early foreseen By the pro-
jectors Of the Great Eastern, and they believed
TINT the vessel possessed advantages quite suli-
Gent to eounse1ba!nnce them. They believed
th1t they had constructed vessel which wond
| be abic 10 carry fuel for voyage however loag,
| would attain speed peyer before lreamt OF, aud
/ would pass over a stormy ocean with M ease
| and steadiness which woolG eooiish the differ
crcc between tea and lund travelling. aud effect
uatlY deliver the fortunate inhabitants Of ..,,s
! fouting islund from tne inc1pressible miseries
Of sea.sickness DO the results entirely bear
out these antcirations.
The minor point Of total immunity from sea-
| sea sickness, must, VIC fear, be given against
the Great Eastern. We think it most probable
that she will be easier than any vessel now
aloat, but We cannot regard this conclusion as
| id fn7t1 n1fh
/ far the stc.d.l!ess derived from her great size
| may be counieracted by the great surface she
| exposes to the action Of the waves, and by the
inadeqaacy Of the propelling powerto the u1ass
which has to be moved.
| These are. however, subordinate questions
compared with tha. on WHICH after atl, the sttc-
cess Of the experiment principally turns-the
speed which st,e will be able to attain and keep
| ur during iloDg voyage over ttorny seq.
Tn this subject IRE cannot but regard the result
Of the experiment Of last sveek ns folerablv con-
elusive. II appears 10 be easy for the Grea.
Eastern, without putting forth any great amount
Of power to rnn about len miles m hour; but
It also would seem that with her paddle: aud
| screw pushed to the rtulost wnich they can nt
present realize, aud with light breeze permit
ting fore and aft sails be set, the Great East
ern cannot exceed Isl knots or less than ejgh-
teen miles III HARROW sea like the entrance into
the British Channel. OF course a very cousid.
ernble deduciinn must be made from this speed
| IN calculating Tor loEg voyage, with ccrtatu
amount Of rough sea and contrary wind. We
know not "ha. thu required deduction mny be.
nut we ie:r that It will reduce Tue speed Of
the vs*se! to point which will render
verr t::fs4cuh tor her to carry Goals with any-
thing like certainty of being able to reacl, H.
dia n nihout calling to take in fuel. In fact, the
speed Of tue Great Eastern does not appear to
be greater than that attained by several vessels
noS ailoat, anil her advantages over other res.
sess' therefore tosin'y consist in her being able
to maintain that speed for much longer dis
tanee' ano, IRON the diminished relation Of pow
to burden, being able to carry goods at
lower freight: The latter advantage appears to
he incortcssab'c; the ftruer; that namely. Of
being able to steam II, ,001 or - 900 miles With