ENGLISH NEWS TO FEBRUARY 16TH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 577, 15 May 1858, Page 3

ENGLISH NEWS TO FEBRUARY 16TH.

The schooner Canterbury arrived on Wednesday evening with the' English mail of February. The events of the period elapsed since the previous mail are few but important. We subjoin the account given of two prominent events by the 'Home News.' THE LEVIATHAN LAUNCHED. -The launching of the Leviathan is at last an accomplished fact. The great vessel now lies safely at her river-moorings opposite Deptford dockyard. It was at first intended that the launch should take place on the 29th January, and everything was got ready; but that day happened to be a Friday, and so loud was the clamour raised amongst the workmen respecting the danger of launching a ship on an " unlucky day," that the attempt was put off until the foliowing'day. On Saturday, the 30tbr, all efforts were abandoned in consequence of the state of the weather. The wind was blowing strong from the westward, and on measuring its force on the broadside of the vessel, it was ascertained that it was about three times in excess of the hauling power, so that the result of letting, the huge vessel float would proMbly have been her going on shore immediately afterwards. On Sunday morning, however, things wore a pleasanter aspect. ' The day rapidly brightened into a splendid spring one, with little or no wind stirring, while the tide promised to be one of the highest of the springs. By 12 o'clock Mr. Brunei was at his post in the yard, superintending the hydraulic rams; Captain Harrison was on the vessel's. deck, speaking-trumpet in hand, controlling the hauling power; and the four steam tugs were ready, clcse by, letting off their waste steam and preparing for a trial of strength with the vast inert force of their colossal competitor. The operations became from this moment of the most intense interest. There were about 11 feet of water under the vessel's keel when the rams were first applied, and every one watched with the greatest anxiety the movements of the gentleman who was measuring and noting down the vessel's progress. Twelve feet, 13 feet, 14 feet, -were successively announced, as each hollow reverberating sound announced another great • subaqueous . push from the ram. All eyes became now fixed on the vessel, and at 14 feet a slight movement was' observed at her stern, when loud and general cries of "She moves," " She floats," resounded through the yard. The steam tugs, four in number, which had been made fast to the vessel, stem and stern, by means of immense hawsers, now began to pull, ' and for a few moments might be seen to roll as if in the agony of their exertions, while the liuge vessel looked as if she did not mean yet to yield to their efforts. But her apparent stillness was, in fact, only an optical delusion on the part of the spectators. She had moved, and was moving, and in another moment the huge timbers of which the cradles were constructed began to pop their heads above water in succession, like a shoal of porpoises, and the yard, the opposite shore, and the boats on the river, all rang with one hearty simultaneous cheer as. the Blue Peter runup to the fore announced that the Leviathan was at length fairly afloat. It might haye been supposed that after so many disappointments the public would have been fairly tired out, and that the final denotement of the launching operations would have been permitted to pass off in comparative solitude. But not so. As soon as those who had , the privilege of standing on her deck had time to look at anything else but the cradles far beneath them, the river might be seen fairly "black with row boats, the shores on both sides densely crowded, and every successive river steamer was loaded to the water's edge with passengers. The excitement was intense, and the sympathising cheers were the most hearty and universal we have ever heard. It seemed as if the public looked upon the great ship as national property, and upon the successful launch as a national event.