Year: 1859

be found valuable.


The Manchester Guardian of the 10th Of September
says


regretto learn from our reporter that the accident
on BOARD the Sreat Eastern serious at
first supposed 10 be the In the first accounts pub
shed was stated that Notwithstanding the fearful
are Oh the explosion none Of the boilers had sustained
the slightest injury This turns out TO have been mis-
take The internal stays Of the boiler most directly ex
or greatly weakened, and lis ascertaned that the
boiler cannot be used with safety in its present


Our London Correspondence.


LONDON, Sept. l6, 1859
Opinions IN London in Regard 10 the Accident on Board the


Great Eastern-Ar Scot Rxsscll Responsible for the E.
p,oion-Oa Of Eca Oomesh Cood-Superior Safety ofMe
Leriathan Den,onrated-The Ne,u Breach ,cixh Chino


Lord Palmerton and the French Ambassador Laying out


Plans Of Operaions-Gratsfa Feeling Produced Among
The English by The Conduct Of the American officers at the


Battle Of Taku, de-, &c.


The past week has been one of stirring motion On
Sunday last all London thrown into violent excite
ment by the astounding intelligence that dreadful explo
sion had occurred board the Great Eastern and that
many lives had been lost While were reading the
next day these sad and unexpected details the news
began 10 spread that the Chinese had and driven
back with great slaughter the naval escort that had
accompanied the English and French Minister'S on their
mission to Pekin Yesterday and day have received
very full and exciting accounts of this unlocked for dis
aster, and you may suppose that all England is in high
state Of commoton from the sudden occurrence Of two
mshaps Of 30 serious nature coming in the week,
and neither foreseen dream Of There is little doubt
that this news will create small excitement in the
United States for your interest the Great Eastern must
be scarcely ess than ours while the perdous violation
Of the late treaties with England and France lead
results that win command your attention hardly less than
ours.


First word two about the Great Eastern. 1t is not
necessary to quote the details or incidents Of this Distress
ing event. you will Of copy them fully from the
journals rill conHne myself rather to what you will
not find there and that is the true Of the accident
With view to the real author of the mischief
great pains have been taken to throw mist over the
origin Of the disaster. It is asserted at time that it
owing the donkey engines being of order and
at another that was stop cock not being turned off,
and The real secret Of the explosion simply
that Mr. Scott RUSSELL the maker of the paddle engines
took upon himself the responsibility Of surrounding the
tunnels of the forward boilers with cketD
outer CASING to contain several tons of hot water
meant to warm the grand saloon Of the ship, through
which one of them passed well feed the boilers
as to economist fue'. Now, had this been the
first experiment Of the kind made there would
have been little blame to cast upon Scott Russell;
but what are we to say and think Of the reck
lessness Of this well known mechanic when ii
is asceraned that this plan OF outer casing has been
tried in numerous steamers-boh in the Cunard and
Collins seamers-and has always ended in failure or mis-
hap Had this thing happened in France the author Of the
misfortune would have been cited before criminal court
but in England another kind of punishment cannot fail to
overake him in the loss Of the reputation he has hitherto
enioyed The damage the Great Eastern exceeds flO
000 but Scott Russell has readily offered repair all for
half the money and to have the bg ship ready sea
again in three weeks There is deep and universal feel
ing Of regret that untoward accident should have
cast momentary gloom over the brilliant dawn Of this
magnificent vessel yet public confidence is not shaken in
her ature Everybody naturally struck by the
ordinary fact that the tremendous explosion had so little
effect upon the eviathan that all her engnes both paddle
and screw went working as smoothly and as steadily
as if nothing at all had happened She didn't mind any
more than whale would the single stroke Of harpoon.
She quietly but rapidly onward unconscious Of the
blow In three weeks the Great Eastern will be ready for
work again. and as indignant at the stain cast upon her
great name. she will fly the Atlantic in way and
alta speed that will asonsh and delight the nautical world
as well as 'the rest of mankind"


Now for a remark so about the extraordinary
ment had made up their minds that Pekn should be
Inundated by the presence Of the English and French
Ministers within its portals tho faith of solemn treaties
Notwithstanding They employed the most direct means,
certainly to prevent this by stopping up the channel Of
the Peho and by constructing forts upon its banks which
were manned by heavy artillery But how stupid and
besotted be these eacherous barbarans to dream
that they may play such bloody tricks with impunty
for the sake Of civilized nations that they should.


The Prime Minister like all the rest of the world, had
retired to his oum digiae in the country, antic
pang short respite from his hard abors but this very
startling intelligence from China has brought him back to
town in hot haste, and he is in constant communication
with the French Ambassador. Both nations put
forth their strength and will give the Brother the
Moon such specimen of their terrestrial power as will
cfccuay his Celestial Majesty his eccentric taste
for firing through treaties and stopping friendly
embassy with chevaux de freze II is undecided yet
whether the Allies will send out large land force WITH
view to march on Pekin, whether they will con1ne
themselves to seizing and holding all the seaports
China. In the former case England will send large
army from India composed chiefly of natives, and so
make the barbarans fight each other to the manifest ad
vantage Of the Christians who will survive TO profit by
their mutual destruction.


There is but sentiment, of angry censure, pro.
nounced here the rash and headlong behavior Of the
English Admiral, Hope, who commanded the fotilla
escorting the Ambassadors He made the enormous
take Of despsng his enemy aud bitterly has he paid for
il. His utter contempt Of all military principles dis
grace to his cloth. II is generally believed here that
Russian officers in Chinese costume directed the fire
against the English feet The aim too good and
steady for John Chnaman, unless he has made marvel
lous progress In gunnery in few brief months. We
shall how he shoots hereafter Let not neglect
say that the English people high and low, are deeply
touched by the noble gallant and humane conduct Of the
officers and men OF the United States vessels of who
were present at the fight forming the escort to the
American Minister, Mr.. Ward who was also his way
to Pckn OF they could take part in the con-


ct but said that the blood of the Americans present
boiled up TO fever heat 10 be compelled to stand idly by
and their brethren in color and language mercessy
slaughtered In cowardly ambush. This event, painful
as II may be- will lead to beneficial results II will
up the somewhat torpid alliance between England
and France and besides this will convince incred
lous John Bull that his lneal descendants the Yankees
are by nsensble to the ties Of common blood
and mutual interests as he Is too prone 10 think at times


LONDON, Sept. l6, 1859
The accident 10 The Great Edserf-A Life Of Engineering


Blundrs-Rene,col Of the Var wih Chiar Russian


Relations 'cih The CelezialS nO Prsant as Si,,,oas


Syiaey Sn,iths Axiom ia 6ayord 10 te Asis tbs 7e