THE LEVIATHAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 566, 7 April 1858, Page 4

THE LEVIATHAN.

The hull of this monstrous ship had become an institution of England by the middle of January. The uncertainty about her success which bewilders even those best informed on the matter and nearest' to the scene of operations is evident from the 'following paragraph from the "Times " giving the latest information on the subject of her movements :— This vessel is still doomed to dissapoint, if not the expectations of her promoters, at least the curiosity of the sight-seeing public, who flock down to Milwall on the least reasonable excuse. Yesterday the neighbourhood of the yard and river, bank w f as crowded with specta tors, who evidently seemed to think that, as the launch was nearly finished, their long patience would be rewarded by seeing the monster get up steam and paddle down the river on her first trip. To the surprise of all outsiders, however she made no sign, and, in fact, the only distance' accomplished yesterday was one solitary slip of 2% inches. The reasons adduced for this apparent inactivity appear reasonable enough, and among them the strongest is that the result of a careful calculation shows positively that, even if the Leviathan was at the extreme end of the launching ways, there would not be sufficient water to float her at the highest of the approaching spring tides! At the same time it is considered as quite within the limits of possibility that if she was pushed down to the end of the ways a northerly gale might suddenly swell the next tides to such an extent as to float her, and set her adrift in the river when such a result was least expected or desired. It is not intended, therefore, to advance the monster many feet beyond her present position until after the spring tides of next Saturd y and Sunday. When these have passed^over'safely she will be pushed as farinto the river as it is possible for the hydraulics to force her, and then left to wait the great spring tidesof the 31st inst. At high tide yesterday there was 10 feet 7 in lies water round her, which it was calculated took off about 5,500 tons of her dead weight on the launching ways. With the assistance which this afforded, some of the hydraulic machines were set to work to ascertain the strain at which she moved. Three 10 inch machines were sufßcient/or this purpose, though only worked at a pressure of 10 cwt. to the circular inch, or about equal to 150 tons force. When we deduct from this the friction on the balks of timber which pushed from the ram to the cradles, and some of which were 150 feet long, it shows that the Leviathan yielded 2| inches to a strain of not more than 110 tons, or about 2,400 tons less than the pressure required to move her on Saturday last. Immediately that the vessel slipped yesterday, as we have said, the timber balks floated up to the surface of the water under which they were laid to reach the vessel, but the result of the experiment was sufficiently satisfactory to lead to a belief that two or three presses are now-enough to accomplish all that remains to ba done. To-day she. will probably be moved a few feet further^ and then suffered to remain until the spring, tidesof Saturday are over.— -Times, Jan 14. The Leviathan.—Yesterday a-short' timebefore the tide had reached" its highest, three of the hydraulic machines aft .and three forwardl were set to work to move the vessel nearer down the ways. She moved in quick, short slips with the utmost ease, the gauges of the few hydraulic machines in use seldom ' averaging more than 10 cwt. to the inch, and each slip taking place f-.t short intervals and with an almost total absence of vibration. In a comparatively short time a distance of 13 feet aft and 3 feet 5 inches forward was accomplished, the after part showing such a tendency to slide away bn the least pressure that it was impossible to regulate the ship's movements with the same relative accuracy as heretofore. The tide of this day (Friday) will now give about 12. feet water under her fore and aft.; the amount required to float her being 14 feet 9 inches. It is, therefore,not; intended to move her again till the spring tide* now at hand are past. After these—most probably on Monday next—she will be pushed as far down the ways, or even off the ends of the ways, as the hydraulic machines can send her, and thus left \o the certain action of the great springs of the 31st instant.— lbid, Jan. 15.