Smyrna times., 1859-09-29
The Great Eastern.

An interesting account of the first trip of
the Great Eastern is detailed in the foreign
news. 1t appears from other statements in our
foreign papers that up TO the very hour of the
monsters starting, "jbes and ieers were
thrown out that there would be an almost per-
petnal repetition of the failures at her launch
ing" Still thousands focked to witness the
attempt The London correspondent of the
North American says:
The departure of the Great Eastern steam
ship from her moorings at Debtford, has been
this week the source of great excitement not
only 10 the residents of this huge Babylon. but
to the denlzens of the three Kingdoms, hundreds
having journeyed from the remoter parts of
England, from Scotland and Ireland, to witness
the first real efforts TO test the greatest and
grandest experiment in naval architecture yet
made. On Wednesday morning, by daybreak,
hundreds of thousands were there to see. 1t
was sight worthy of being seen, too. At five
o'clock in the morning the Debtford dockyard
gates were thrown open to admit those who
lived in the neighborhood of the river 'front.'
The noble quadrangle in front of Greenwich
Hospital, running parallel to the river for some
distance, was also thrown open on this occasion
10 the public, and dense mass of people too
advantage of it. The eariness of the hour
caused the arrivals TO seem slow aud compara >
lively few, but when the smoke began TO issue
from the tunnels of the Great Eastern, then a
better notion could be formed OF the enormous
number of persons congregated to witness the
departure OF the gigantic vessel A low.
hoarse, hummlng, buz2lng, like the sound uI
surglng sea on distant shore; ane wi Ell a cry
| arose, "She is OFF," the scene became one
which 1t is impossible to give any adequate de.
scrIptlon OF. In an instant, as if by magic, the
river swarmed with small boats, crowded with
individuals possessing more faith than dscre.
ton. The river STEAMBOATS,, of which there
were goody number, were black above their
decks with closely packed passengers; the
craft on the river, the shores, the wharves, the
factories, every place where there was foot
hold or space TO see, human being could be
seen giving way 10 frantic gestures Of animated
enthusiasm. AS her gigantic proportions were
seen gliding with an easy motion through the
murky waters of the Thames, a tremendous
shout from all parts rent the air, bands of mu-
sic played " See the cOnquerlng hero comes"
guns were fired, flags were waved, and such
intense enthusiasm prevailed as to surpass any
similar display | have ever witnessed or am
likely to behold again. The vessel was under
the guidance of Mr.. Atkinson, the most kllful
of our river pilots He stood upon The bridge
with Captain Harrison, who has the appolnt.
ment as her commander to give dlrectlons.-
Captain Comstock, well known in Atlantic nav.
lgatlon, was at the wheel to watch the helms
man, to see that the orders of the pilot and the
captain were duly carried out. Some doubts
were expressed as to the possibility of the ves-
sci grounding on her way to the Nore and
there is sharp bend in the river, Just between
- nh ,s.AD
Ject OF some apprehension, owing TO the vast
length of the vessel {; but, although a barque
was IN the way just this bend was reached,
and the vessel did stretch across from une side
OF the river TO the other, almost absolutely
bridging u, the difficulty was got over with
ease. The vessel not having sufficient ballast
on board, either IN the way offreight or Goa $.
was worked at halt speed, that beinr the maxi
mum, but she made with only nine revolutions
per minute OF her paddles, instead of fifteen.
and with part of her screw SIX feet out of wa.
Ter, no less than thirteen knots an hour, being
upwards OF fifteen statute miles Her engines
worked 10 perfection, without sound and with
out vibration. pail Of water was placed upon
her paddle box by way of experiment, and not a
drop was sufficiently agitated TO go over the
side OF the vessel which contained it, The yes-
sci neither ploughed nor surged, but seemed to
steal through the water with amazing swift
ness and what was extraordinary, considering
the immense size of her paddle wheels and
screw, without leaving any swell behind. At
lI.5O Soulhend was gained, and a little after
IL the More was reached and the anchor let
go.
Near Woolwich, according to the account,
the great ship was met by a first.class American
clipper, which looked like a dwarf beside her,
The American crew appeared to be astonished
al her vast proportions, and greeted her with
nearly cheer. The great interest everywhere
along her route, is reflected to some
extent IN the British press. which abOunds with
specuiatons as TO her success. On Change
she Is already pronounced a complete success
AT the insurance Offices she has rapidly grown
in favor.
The London Times calculates. from the rate
at which she went down the Thames-with a
necessarily limited amount of steam pressure,
and the paddles and screw much under what
they will be-that her sea- going speed will be
about eighteen to nineteen miles an hour
The calculation is that she will require $50
tons OF coal day. Happily, if report be true,
an English SdUant has discovered a mode of
economlzing fuel, in steamboat consumption,
wnich VIII render 1t necessary TO use only u
NTH moiety OF what is now found requisite.
The CoNNEcTIcUT TOBACCO CROP.-The to.
Oacco 10 Connecticut is now lying out for dry
Ing Nearly double the quantity of land, ofI
any former year-as we estimate it after view.
ing good portion of the State-has been sown
to this crop the present summer. We may have
over estimated the amount, but the increased
breadth IN tobacco this year cannot possibly be
less Than oG per cent. greater than in any pre-
ceding season. On the whole we Judge the
Connecticut crop will be fully equal, if not SUI
psrlor Quantity included,) to any of its prede.
cessors. We have heard its value estimated
at Sl'OOO 900. Last year the crop was 10 900
cases, and prices averaged about l7c. per lb. (:
what the price of the crop OF 1859 will average.
remains to be determined by circumstances.-
Hartford Times
TIE Phadeph North American eays:-
9 IIha ann Lo.a g NJ