The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-06-29

but gazing at the mighty vessel she doomed up,
dark and massive, in the bright moonlight and down
every street in the neghborhood Of the picr the org
"stiD they GOMEZ Il ~ rt f4 ff9H
.nsToRY OF TIE GREAT EASTERN.
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N anticipation Of her departure from England on the
9th inst, which was duly announced, and led US 10
expect her the 18th or 10th inst, we published few
days ago account in detail Of all matters Of interest
pertaining to the ship-her FORM size accommodations
and ccnsruction-and history Of her from her
Arst conception 70 the day Of her sailing including her
launching trial trips and the various vcissades through
which she has passed Owing 70 sundry causes, however,
the voyage did not take place q the appointed time, aud
interesting account thus fell prematurey upon the
public attention. give 70 day synopsis o all that has
heretofore been published so that complain Of
ck of historical lnbmasioa upon thsme which, in the
course Of ten hours, v ~ be upon every tongue. 4
TIE arrival Of the Great Eastern in American waters,
though somewhat later than anticipated win not, We
believe excite less interest and consideration than the
important principles involved IN her construction demand
Rapidly approachns have mot already attained the
petition Of The FIRST maritime people In the world,
never be Indifferent TO progress In the direction Of ac
tatng oceanic intercommunication. To our efforts In
this direction owe much Of the influence which we
exescise on European aars and which the old countries
themselves are beginning tardy 70 recognise Our
unyyaed Atlantic and Pacific lines ofal steamers fully
demonstrate tho ability Of Americans 10 take the first
rank such enterprises, and it Is only nom the fact that
our commercial exgencics dc not yet require large
neets Of ocean steamers that we may APPEAR now to
cupy secondary position 70 that Of England in this re-
spect 10 Americans undoubtedly belongs The honor Of
having solved the problem Of ocean steam navigation.
e little Savannah Of $50 TONS left the city after which
- .oGsA NJ A.
run over 10 Liverpool In twenty-five days For fourteen
day Of that time she under steam acne her per-
fancs then Satisfactorily settled The question whether
was practicable for steam vessels eros tho Asatc
1t matter Of surprise that experiment 50 suocessp
fl this should have excited little attention, and that
should not have been Immediately followed up by
further ert 80 little interest, however ssems 70 have
boen manifested that when hs Great Wesasra perismed
her nst voyage In 1885, few persons either side Of the
Atlantic conscious that the feet had been objected
nearly twenty years before. From the nrst trip Of the
Great Western may be dated the growth OF the boble
Seets Of mail which traverse every sec,
With arssu,arity that enables COMMERCIAL nm N caicu
laae within twuzy ow hovs, on the reception of sd'
vices from The mest distant parts q The gobs Great
britain whose colonial possessions neosssitaed the cxpen
dture Of large sums for frequent and prompt postal Ger.
vice. lost no time IN Awaiting herself Of the fat acccp
OF ocean navigation. Companies Immediately
formed to run mall lines 10 the West Indies and, by
way of spain Portugal and Gibraltar to the Msdterra
The Of these pioneer lines marked and
decisive. ID
THE ORIGIN OF THE GREAL EASTERN.
TO fully understand the which led the
strucon Of I'm Great Eastern IL will be necessary 10 say
fsu words as 70 the origin and progress Of one Of
these companies. The Peninsular and Oriental
Steam Navigation Company took It's rise from .
FIRM owning two or three small steamers,
which carried the mails month to Lisbon, calling
st vigo end Oporto roe From tho impulse givea 10
steam navigation in 1888, shs line vas purchased BY
company aud It's service extended 70 the Mediterranean,
with sufficient regularity but at low rate Or speed soon
afterwards Lieutenant waghorne demonstrated the sd
vantage Of forwarding the Indian mail overland from Al
exandria to sucz, and thence down the Red For
time the mail was carried through Europe by the German
railways Trieste and conveyed thence 10 Alexandria BY
steamers belonging the Austrian Ioyds Company. Az
soon the French railway line 70 Marseles hnlshed
the Peunsuiar and Oriental Company made contract
convey the overland mail from Essand 10 Malta. Uader
shs contract with the British government the heavy por
tsa Of the nail snt by steamer through tho gut OF
Gibraltar. the moro Important matter Vas forwarded
several days later, through France 70 Marseics and
picked up by the vessel her arrival. From Malta,
packets belonging the government carried the bags TO
Alexandria for transit to sucz, and carried them again
down the Red a 10 Adcn where vessels Of the East India
Company waiting their arrival 70 complete the
voyage to India =
This contract with the British government gave great
inpsss 70 Tho operations Of the company. New and
powerful steamers built, and the greatly in
creased communications with India consequent on the
rapidly Of the transit overland, made the Pcninsular
and Oriental the most successful Of English steamship
companies Their monopoly Of the Overland mail line,
and the large divdsnds they paid gave rss TO desire
the part of capitalists 70 share with them in this ad
vantaecous trsfRc. r,r rrrr
In 1851 the prospectus OF the Eastern steam Navigation
Company issued. The object which they proposed
70 effect establish second line Of steam commun
cation by the overland route, for conveying malls and
passengers between England and India, Chna and Aus
traiA The necessary capital Immediately subscribed
and charter Of Incorporation obtained, the effect Of
which was to limit the responsibility Of shareholders TO
Ne amount Of their sharee Parliamentary committee,
which nas at this tims, mail contracts, reported IN
vor cs she objects OF shs eonpany, aad rscemmsndsd
that portion Of the contract for carrying The overland
mail should be given TO them The principal reason for
this recommendation was, doubt The fact that The
rsv company proposed 70 increase the contract
speed fcr performing tho voyages rom eight 70
ten knots an hour. THIS oner, coming from rivals VII
we're evidently guide capable Of doing a thai they pro-
poeed 10 do threw the Pennsular and Oriental Company
INTO saie Of alarm frshe continuance Of their mono
POLY and every engine which could BE- srousht play
was used TO obtain renewal OF their contract then
the point Of expiration by little judicous lotroln
Win come II she minor governments ~nc,ss, ana by
agreeing 10 raise their speed 70 zen knots they succeeded
IN concluding smother consrset with the British govern
ment for the term Of yesrs Being Tins smut out
from composition with The existing company, the direc
tors x the E.stcrn ssea NsvisstiM Company gave %
soch crresrs chose 10 avail themselves Of thc Offer
opportunity Of retiring from the project tho company
then entered into communication with gentlemen who,
like Bruncl had esprcssed opinion that if steamers
could be bui capable Of taking 10 at coal sufficient
COZ voyage bekxeen EnaIahd and Inda and back again