Year: 1859




cheering themselves till they were hoarse
again, while the bands played See the
Conquering Hero Come, Rule Britannia,
and all sorts of musical welcomes. For
, the rest of the evening there was constant
repetition of such visits. Not a vessel
+ passed that did not turn up hands to cheer,
while many, as they came down the river,
were dressed in flags from stem to stern.
1t was not till night had fallen that the
Great Ship was fairly left alone, and began
} swinging round to her anchor with the ris-
) ing tide.


The night was little puffy, and seemed
inclined to become more so, but the wind
fell as the moon rose, and the weather
eventually settled down into dead calm
1t took upwards Of All hour for the tide to
turn the ship fully around, and at low wa
ter, as she lay across the river for a short
time in turning, she mi ght almost be said
to have stopped the navigation with her
colossal bulk. During the night she
swung twice again, and by daylight was
lying with her head fair for the resumption
of her course down the river. 1t seems
almost incredible that ship Of such size
could have swung in any part of the
Thames, but only national men can appre-
cate the fact of her doing so in a strong
tide way with single six. ton anchor, which
was crossed aud re-crossed no less than
three times without the chain fouling it or
the anchor being disturbed in its hold
At about half past eight this morning the
vessel was again under way. The Marquis
Of Stafford had joined during the nj ght
aving travelled all the way from Scot
land to witness the Great Ships first eff
forts Lord Alfred Paget also came Oh
board before starting.


One turn little below Long Reach re-
quired to be rounded, but with the depth
Of the water and greater breadth of the
river this was accomplished with compar-
ative ease. Just after passing it, a little
brig, which was quite safe when she was
sailing up, appeared frightened at the sight
of the huge vessel, and altering her course,
stood almost across the path Of the Great
Eastern, and was within an ace of being
run down. As the vessel approached
Gravesend, multtudes Of people could be
distinguished along the shore. Gradually
as she came nearer and nearer, the air
rung with their cheers, and the river was
covered with boats of every shape and size,
crowded with people, all shouting or wav
ing hats and handkerchiefs. There was
something almost affecting in the spcnta,
neous enthusiasm and delight with which
all seemed to hail the release OF the noble
ship from her long thraldom in the river.
No matter whether it was Hamburg or
Rottendam steamer with half foreigners on
board, or fishing smack with a couple of
men In the bows, none seemed too high or
too low to do her honor, and her long
voyage do the river was one continued
scene of yociferous welcome. Off Grave
send, ard front of the thronging piers and
terraces were several large troop-ships,
with detachments on board for India. The
crews were in the shrouds of these the
soldiers, grouped in picturesque masses,
stood on deck.


From all. the great ship got welcome
which was worth a long journey to see,
and which, triumphant as may be her re-
ception in the States is never likely to be
surpassed, or often equalled With the
parting cheers still floating across the wa
ter, Gravesend was left behind, and the
two tugs ahead began to go at greater
speed as the Lower Hope was passed
Soon the water began to change its tint
from a dirty black to the muddy green, the
cool air came fresher across the reaches,
and those on board reoiced at last at the
long wished for approach of sea water.
The transition was marked in the usual
dlsagreeable manner by the boilers "prim
,pt {bro1 bou
of muddy water from the steam-pipes all
over the deck. This unpleasant inaugura-
alton, however, was soon over as sea wa
ter was fairly gained, and preparations
were made for casting of the tugs, and
leaving the Great Eastern for once and for
all up her own resources.


The change. as may be readily imagined
made no difference, the wanderer thus cast
adrift being better able to take care of him
self than any vessel that has ever vet float
ed or the world seen. Still, as the event
marked the commencement of what we be-
leve will be long and triumphant career,
and which will inaugurate a new era in
] ocean steamships and ocean navigation, it
, deserved to be marked. The tugs were
; cast off at the Chapman Head, at the top
. Of the Sea Roach, the passengers with the
ships band being assembled aft and the
crew forward The National Anthem was
played as the smoky auxiliaries left hel
head to her own control-the passengers
cheering from one end of the vessel, while
a the crew swarmed into the shrouds for
! ward to return the compliment. Thu:
: the tugs were let 90, after having perform
r ed their arduous duty under the most diff
q ficult circumstances in way that com
}, manded the admiration Of the most exper
I fenced pilots on boarl. .s........


As soon as the vessel was left to hersel
n an increased amount of speed was got o:
=. to her. This was done, not III the leas


with a view Of testing her power, but liter
4 ally only to give her good steeragc waI
:. and move her engines easily. Throughou
= the whole course down the river the pad
: dies engines had never been moved at ;
greater speed than from four to six revolu


tons per minute, an.Ithe screw from thir
teen 10 eighteen. In fact, neither engin
! was moved till il became actually neces
i, sary to assist the tugs. Yesterday, how
ever, when our valuable little aids, which