The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-29
THREE DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE.
The Zurich Conference = Departure Of the
Great Eastern on Her Trial Trip.

"
Great Eastern on Her Trial Trip.
The steamer Arabia, with Liverpool dates to
tina 10th INST, has arrived at Halifax.
The Zurich CONFERENCE.-THE Paris CORES
pendent of the London Times says that the
Zurich Conferences are suspended de .facto for
the present.
has proposed to France and Austria an Euro
pean Congress on Italian affairs, on the prelim-
mary basis of non-intervention by force of arms.
A Paris telegram Of the 9th says that this state
ment is not correct. @ -
Another meeting between the Emperors of
France and Austria was expected to take place
soon in Switzerland.
Victor Emmanuel received the Tuscan dele
cation on the Sd. In reply 20 their address, he
thanked them for their expressed wish for an
nexation, but said its accomplishment can only
take place by negotiations which are about to
begin on the affairs of Italy. He said he would
support the cause of Tuscany before the great
Powers, and hoped that Europe would not re-
fuse to practice towards Tuscany that work of
redressing grievances which it, under less favor
able circumstances, practiced towards Greece,
Belgium, and the Danubian Principalities.
The vote in Parma on the question of annexa
ton to Piedmont, resulted in its favor by $1,000
to 500.
The Paris journals praise highly Victor
Emmanuel's speech, and they conclude that it
is almost certain Congress will assemble.
Great Britoin.-The great event of the week
has been the departure of the Great Eastern
for sea. The Nova Scotian brought ont news
that the vessel had proceed down the Thames
as far as Purfeet on the It'll, and anchored
there for the tide of the following morning.
Her departure from her mornings, accompanied
hxyf Al H.
at the stern gave rise to scene of the greatest
enthusiasm on the Thames, which was con-
tinued at all the prominent points. Captain
Harrison and the most experienced Thames
pilot directed the ships motions. Mr.. Scott
Russell was on the bridge, directing the action
of the engines, both of which, screw and pad
die, were under steam. Captain Comstock, of
the Collins steamer Baltic, stood aft to transmit
directions to the men at the wheel, the new
steering apparatus not being completely fitted.
The very first turn in the river demonstrated
that the ship was as completely under command
as river steamer, and that the only difficulties
10 contend with were the sharp curves in the
stream.
She steers as easily as a wager boat, and her
engines were found capable of starting her or
arresting her motion, literally, almost by a sim
gle motion of the hand. The only difficulty
experienced was at Blackwell Point, where the
river forms an acute angle, and in the centre
of the channel, at this point, barque and a
schooner had unfortunately anchored. There
was an anxious and perilous delay of fifteen
minutes but the danger was passed. and there
was no other serious cause for uneasiness.
There was not single regular seaman on
board during the river trip-the crew not hav.
ing joined.
There were perfect ovations at Greenwich,
| a. L Al L
immense crowds had assembled. At Purheet
the ship swung round to her single anchor.
Trotman's patent" never yielded an inch from
the spot where it dropped. On the 9Th, the
Great Eastern got up steam and weighed an
Choir, and at $40 A. M. started from Purheet
for the More. AS on the preceding day, she
was accompanied by tugs, and the enthusiasm
about the river, particularly at Gravesend, was
very great. On arriving at Chapmans Head,
at the top of Sea Reach the tugs were cast off,
and the great vessel was left to herself
Increased speed was then got on her, simply
to give her good steerage-way, and move her
engines readily, but with no view to test her
power. In ten minutes, however, says the cor
respondent of the Times, she set at rest all
doubts forever to her being the fastest vessel,
beyond comparison, in the world.
Employing less than two-thirds of her power,
in her worst trim, being six inches down by the
head, and too high out of water to permit her
| paddles screw blades to work properly, and
with strong tide against her, she ran dis
lance of fifteen statute miles in two minutes
under an hour. The engines worked with as
! tonishing ease, and there WAS scarcely vibra-
ton perceptible.
Before anchoring, the vessel was put about,
and went completely round in less than three
\ quarters of mile. At 1890 the vessel an
chored at the More. She was to leave the N ore
at 7 o'clock on the morning of the 9th, and
steam away easily for Portland, Dorsetshire,
which harbor she was expected to reach early
on the morning of the 10th. Much regret was
felt that serious illness prevented Mr. Brunei
from being on board to share in the triumph.
THE TRIAL TRIP OF THE GREAT Eastern
FURTHER PARTICULARs.-The English papers
by the Arabia contain full accounts of the sail
ing of the monster steamship Great Eastern
upon her trial trip. The correspondent of the
Times, writing from Purheet, Sept 7, after de-
scribing the busy scenes connected with the clo-
sing preparations, the statoning of officers at
various points, &C., says:
"Then was the order given to go ahead
slowly, and for the first time the Great Eastern
started into motion, and, with the slow, males
tic beat of her huge paddles, moved grandly
down the river Then ensued an extraordinary
scene. Thousands upon thousands of people
were seen rushing to the river side from all
points. Boats of every kind and size were
launched, crowded to the waters edge, and the
stream and its banks seemed suddenly instinct
with lfe There were not so much cheers as
continuous shouting-a genuine outburst OF
enthusiasm and delight. Even the wan and
sickly inmates of the Seamens Hospital ship
turned ont upon the deck or crowded the ports
with their worn faces, to give one shout or wave
cap to the vessel which swept so grandly by.
"The noble vessel now seemed to be instinct
with life. She had cast off her little encum-
brances, and was gradually putting forth her
own powers in cleaving the waters. The screw
now worked thirty revolutions minute, and
the paddles nine and half the force used be-
ing about two-thirds of her maximum power.
Under these circumstances, she gave thirteen
and half knots so that, taking into consider
alton her insufficient immersion, and the con-
sequent imperfect working of the paddle and
screw, her maximum speed may be calculated
at nineteen knots, or tUenty-three measured
miles an hour, being double the acreage Of any
of the subsidized steamers.
During the time that the vessel was going
at the speed of thirteen and half knots, or
fifteen miles, the engines worked with an ease
that, when their size and power are considered,
was perfectly astounding. There was scarcely
any s4bration on the vessel, and, as far as could
be gathered from outward objects, one might
much easier have imagined ones self writing in
Partisan saloon than in the state cabin of the
Great Eastern, flying down the More. One
thing connected with the vessel is as remarka-
BILE as her other characteristics. Even when
going thirteen knots an hour, there was an utter
absence of swell in her wake-even less, as
far as could be judged from the deck, than is
] made BY the ordinary penny steamers and not