The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-10-07
THE TRIAL TRIP or THE aREAFEAstERN.

On Thursday, in our telesra phic report of
foreign news, we gave an account of the de-
Parture and passage Of the Great Eastern down
the Thames as far rs the More. The CORES
pondent Of the London Times, writing on the
9th inst. after describing the remainder of her
passage down the river to salt water, says:
THE tugs were cast off the Chapmnns Head
ut the top Of Sea Beach. the passengers. with
the ships band being assembled aft and the
crew forward. The National Anthem was
played ms the smoky auxliarics left her head
TO her own control-the passengers cheering
from one cndkof the vessel, while tho crew
swarined in the shrouds forward to return the
compliment. Thus the tugs were let 70, after
having performed their arduons duty on the
most difficult circumstances in a way that
: commanded the admiration of the most cxpe
rlenced pilots on board. As soon rs the vessel
. was lett to herself an increased amount CT
sneed was got on her. This was done, not in
the least wtlfsa view of testing her power,
hutslternlly only toigive her good steerage
Way'-and to move her engines easily. Through
out the whole course down the river. the pad
die engines hnd never been moved Mt a greater
speed than from ALTO 6 revolutions per minute.
and the screw froJntl2 to lS. In fact, neither
engine was moved until it became actually
necessary to assist the tuge. Yesterday, how
ever. when our valuable little aids, which had
realized the fable Of the Mouse and{.he Lion,
and freed the Great Eastern from all her river
tolls were cast alrift at ChapmaHssH Head, more
apeed was put upon the vessel. afidin ten min.
utes she set at rest forever ALI Edoubtae to her
being the fastest vessel, Beyond comparison. in
the world. IT has ALREADY been stated. that
the proper sea going trim of the Great Eastern
Is a little over fourfeet down in the Stern. In.
stead of this she is at present six inches down
by the head, while her whole draught Of wa.
ter is too light to allow the immersion to her
paddle fonts, and not less than four feet Of
her blades ont Of water
Any one at all acquainted with steamships
VIII sec Tint an attempt at the real speed I'M
der such circumstances. was ont of the ques
ton. Yet even in this trim enough was done
to show the marvellous power which this yes.
gel will possess when fully ready for sea. At
sea the Great Eastern is intended to work Mt
20 pounds of steam, the paddles going Ia rev.
olutIons and tho screw SO. To-day the pres
sure of steam was under II pounds. the pad
dies never actually reached 9 revolutions. and
the screw 81. Yet even when not employ ing
two-,hlrds of her power, and in the worst
trim ngainst strong tide, she ran from the
Lower Hope point to the More light ship, a
distance of Is Statute miles, in two minutes
under the hour. Calculating from this data
1T will he found that working to her ordinary
sea-l-ower will give her, even in her present
trim, an average of from is to 10 miles an
hour During the time that the vessel was
gong at this speed Of l3 knots, or 10 miles,
the engines worked with an ease that, when
their size and power are considered, was per-
iectly astounding. There was scarcely any
vibration on the vessel, anl far rs could be
gathered from outward objects, one might
much easier have supposed ones self writing
in Partisan saloon then in the state cabin Of
the Great Eastern flying down the More. One
thing connected with the vessel is as remarka-
ble as her other characteristics. Even when
gong 13 knots m hour, there was an utter
uDSCnce "SwelI N hcr oEa laSs
far MS could be judged from the deck. than is
made by the ordinary penny steamers. md
not one half as much as was thrown up by our
own tugs.