Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-09-24

The TRIAL TRIP OF THE GREAT EAsrERS.-On
Thursday, In our telegraPhic report of foreign |
news, we gave m account of the departure and |
passage OF the Great Eastern down the Thames as
mr as the More. The correspondent of the London
Times, writing on the sth instant, after descfbing
The renainder OF her passage down the river to
nlt winter, says: "a "a
The tngs were cast off the Chapman's Heal,
at the top of Sea Beach. the passengers with the
ships band being assembled aft and the crew for
ward. The National A nthem was played IS the
smoky auxiliaries left her head to her own con-
| trol-the passengers cheering from one end OF the
vessel, while the crew swarmed into the shYowds
| forward to return the compliment. Thus the tugs
were let go, after having performed their arduons
duty on the most di ficult circumstances in way
| that commanded the admiration Of the most ex-
pefienced pilots on board. As soon al the vessel
was left to herself an increased amount of speed
/ was got on her. This was done, not in the least
| with a view OF testing her power, but literally
only to give her good steerage way and to move
| her engines easily Throughout the whole course
down the river the paddle engines had never been
| moved at greater speed than from 4 to revolu-
lions per minute, and the screw from IL to 10 In
| fact. neither engine was moved until it became
| actually necessary to assist the tugs Yesterday.
however when our valuable little aids, which had
realized the fable OF the Mouse and the Lion. and
| freed the Great Eastern from all her river tolls.
| were cast adrift at Chapman's Head more speed
was put upon the vessel. and in ten minutes she
set at rest forever all doubt as to her bel ng the
fastest vessel beyond comparison in the world II
has already been stated that the proper sea- going
trim of the Great Eastern is little over four feet
down by the stern. Instead of this she is at pres
ent six inches down by the head, while her whole
draught Of water Is too light to allow the prorer
| immersion to her paddle floats, and not less than
four feet Of her screw blades out Of water.
Any one at all acquainted with steamships will
see that an attempt at the real speed under such
| circumstances was out Of the question. Yet even
| in this trim enough was done to show the mar
velous power which this vessel will possess when
fully ready for sea At sea the Great Eastern Is
intended to work at 25 pounds of steam. the pad
| dies going IA revolutions and the screw So. To-
. | day the pressure of steam was under II pounds
, the paddles never actually reached revolutions
and the screw only ~. Yet even when not en-
ploying twO-thirds of her power, aud in the worst
trim against strong tide. she ran from the Lower
| Hope point to the More light-ship, distance oil
10 statute miles in two minutes under the hour
. | Calculating from this data ii will be found thai
, working to her ordinary sea-power will give her
even In her present TRIM average of from Is Il
Id miles an hour. During the time that the vesse
was going at this speed of II knots, or Is miles
the engines worked with an ease that, when thei
size and power are considered, was perfectly as
founding. There was scarcely any vibration or
the vessel, and, as far could be gathered from
: outward objects. one might much easier have
, | supposed One's-self writing in Partisan sailor
than in the state cabin Of the Great Eastern living
down the More. One thing connected with the
vessel is as remarkable her other characteristics
| Even when going 10 knots an hour there was ar
, | utter absence OF 'swell' in her wake-even less
as far as could be judged from the deck than il
made BY the ordinary penny steamers. and NO
one-llalf as much as was thrown up by our owl
tugs.