Year: 1859

From the Lendon Times.


MORE LIGHT, Thursday, Sept. S.


After her first short run the Great East
ern remained at her anchor off Purfeet for
the rest of the night, and slowly resumed
her progress down the river at quarter to
9 o'clock this morning. Her stoppage at
Purfeet was sad disappointment to many
thousands who had been collecting at
Gravesend all day in the firm belief that
she could or would stop nowhere else. H9r
slight detention at Blackwall point, how
ever. prevented this, and it became abso-
lutely necessary from the state of the tide
to bring up at once at Long Reach. The
distinguished arrival threw Purheet into a
state of uncommon excitement. Every one
within moderate reach of it by road or rail
hurried to the little village till it was
thropged to the waters edge. Gravesend,
also, seemed most unwilling to yield up its
share in the great occasion without an
effort. and before long crowded boats steered
round AMI round the ship, the passengers
cheering themselves till they were hoarse
again, while the bands played "See the
Conquering Hero Comes" "Rule Britain
MA" and all sorts of musical welcomes.
For the rest of the evening there was a
constant repetition Of such visits. Not
vessel passed that did not turn up hands to
cheer, while many, as they came down the
river, 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
rising tide The night was a little puffy,
and seemed inclined to come more so, but
the wind fell as the moon rose, and the
weather eventually settled down into dead
calm. 1t took upwards of an hour for the
tide to turn the ship fully round, and at low
water, as she lay across the river for short
time in turning, she might 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 a ship of
such size could have swung in any part of
the Thames, but only nautical men can ap>
preciate the fact OF her doing so in strong
tide way with single siX-tcn anchor,
which was crossed and recrossed no less than
three times without the chain fOuling it or
the anchor being disturbed in its hold. At
halfpast eight this morning the vesssl was
again under way. The Marquis of Stafford
had Joined during the night, having travelled
all the way from Scotland to witness the
great ships first Efforts. Lord Alfred
Paget also came on board before starting.
One turn little below Long Reach required
to be carefully rounded, but with the depth
OF the water and greater breadth of the riv-
er this was accomplished with comparative
case inst after passing it, little brig,
which was quite safe when she Was sailing
up, appeared frightened at the sight of the
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
multitudes 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 waving hats and
handkerchiefs. There was something al
most affecting in the spontaneous enthusl-
asm and delight with which all seemed to
hail the release of the noble thip from her
long thraldOm in the river. No matter
whether it was Hamburgh or Rotterdam
steamer with half foreigners on board, or a
fishing smack with few men in the bows,
none seemed too high or too low to do her
honor, and her voyage Gown the river was
one continued scence of vOciferOus welcome
Of Gravesend and n 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 long jour-
ney to see, and which, triumphant as may
be her reception in the States, is never like
ly to be surpassed, nor even equalled. With
the parting cheers still floating across the
water Gravesend was left behind, and the
two dugs ahead began to 60 at greater
speed as the Lower Hope Was passed.
Soon the water began to change its tint
from dirty black to muddy green, and cool
air came fresher across the reaches, and those
on board rejoiced at last at the long wished
for approach of sea water. The transition
was marked in the usual disagreeable man.
ner by the the boilers "priming," as it is
termed, and throwing showers of muddy
water from the steam pipes over all the
deck. This unpleasant Inauguration, how
ever, was soon over as sea water was fairly
gained, and preparations were made for
casting off the tugs and leaving the Great
Eastern for once and for all upon 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 her.
shlf than any vessel that has ever yet foated
or the world seen. Still, as the event
marked the commencement of what we be-