The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-07-07

makers reaching the bounds of distant Wis
ion by the necessary opacity Of their lens
es, and Lord Ross great instrument re-
quires almost that the earth should stand
still and that the atmosphere should be
abolished in order that it may work sue
cessfully. And, on the other hand, the
microscope makers, when they expanded
an infinitesimal mote two thousand linear
diameters, declare that they can magnify
no more because they have reached the
limit which the power of light itself can
define So, likewise, in this experiment
of the Great Eastern, we approach, if we
do not exceed the limits of human capaci-
ty, if not the capacity of that tremendous
energy--steam. The relation of captain
and crew to ship is totally changed.
The captain might stand on the quarter
deck in the midst Of a summer sea, and,
with aid of trumpet, bawl himself hoarse in
the vain attempt to be heard more than
two thirds the length of the ship; but in
storm? Verify, she requires men of twen-
ty cubits high, and limbs and lungs to
match, to handle such ship in the old
fashioned way In other directions the
limits are approached. The leading OBJ
lect in constructing the Great Eastern was
to have a steamer which could sail directly
to Australia from England carrying one or
two thousand passengers and her own
GOAL By her accomplishing this she would
save the enormous cost of coaling at one or
two intervening ports. But it seems that
she consumes 270 tuns of coal day, max
ing about twelve knots; hence to sail nine
ty days on straight line she would re-
quire "a, 800 tuns of coal-more, indeed,
than her actual tunnage. And the cost of
Furnishing her with fuel at any intermedi-
ate port may be estimated when it is stat
ed that vessel of 500 tons could not trans
port enough coal TO last her tcO days!
Yet, as shown by writer in morning
paper, she could be made safe and profit
able passenger ship between England and
New York.
This writer, Mr. Wilkes, of the Esprit
of the Times" has written an account of
the voyage well worthy of the occasion.
1t is clear and concise statement of the
movements and incidents of the voyage,
written with the ease and fuency of one
who was half a mariner. In fact, once,
and only once, he rises to the regions of
poetry: Nothing could be more beautiful
than to stand on the elevated grating in her
bow, and see her stern lift itself majestical-
ly against the sky as we dropped into
some yielding wave before us, or to behold
her rising sideways to her equilibrium like
some frollicking beauty lifting her should
ers in her downy bed."* (This was only
the third day out.
One other remark, and we are done.
Accor7 ing to Mr.. Wilkes, the ways of the
Great Eastern are " rs of pleasantness;' it
is glorious to add, "aud all her paths are
peace :" May her triumphs be always
peaceful. Just on the other side of the
Hudson River, nearly opposite the spot
where the Great Eastern now lies at anchor,
free as sunlight and air can make her, with
all her inward intricacies opento any mans
vision-on the other side of the Hudson
there lies hulk of a different character,
constructed under the direction of man
hardly less gifted than Mr.. Brunei, and with
the same description of gift. Surrounded
by high and impenetrable walls, built un-
der the greatest possible secrecy, with mil
lions of government dollars to pay for the
same, is the wonderful but yet untested
iron battery of Mr.. Stevens. This is an
implement of destruction, for rending and
tearing whole fleets of ships. Mr.. Stevens,
we believe, like Mr.. Brunei, died a year
ago; and here, adjacent to each other, in
our metropolitan port, lie the great works
of these great men-the one buried in the
darkness and mystery from which, we pray
God there may never be occasion to bring
it forth, and the other wearing on her taft
rail the crown of peace, welcomed with the
joyful plaudits of our million of citizens
*Mr Wilkes had better be careful, or he will
have the Sunday Times" down on him. That
paper takes the New York ladies to task for vast
ing their cmprcSsment on man of Tommys color.
What will he say to Mr. Wilkes poetry on the
black beauty-the Great Eastern.-Printer's
derI.
Appointments.
The following is list of the appoint