THE GREAT EASTERN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIII, Issue 753, 25 January 1860, Page 4

THE GREAT EASTERN.

GREAT EASTERN. The Great Eastern, during the 25th and 26th of October, was most sharply tested, and had to weather as heavy a gale as has swept into the harbour of Holyhead for years past. On the whole she stood the test well, but at one time it appeared all but certain that she would be completely wrecked. After this occurrence it was determined to bring her round to Southampton. She left Holyhead on November 2nd and arrived at Southampton November 4th. The trip was a very successful one. It was an excellent trial for the ship, and she behaved admirably throughout the passage, not a single rope having given way. She did not put out her power until reaching the Lizard, about noon on the 3rd, when both her engines were at work, and she was under fore and aft canvas. From the Lizard to Portland Bay she averaged a speed of 13* knots per hour, while in a two hours'run between the Eddystone and the Start the speed attained was nearly 16 knots per hour, as attested by several logs at one time. There was a heavy ground swell, in consequence of which the Great Eastern rolled heavily. With regard to the consumption of fuel, not the least doubt now exists that the Great Eastern, full steaming power, will require at least 300 tons a day, and for casual steaming under sail, about 230. The last is, on the whole rather too low an estimate; and the daily supply required was more likely rather to exceed than fall short of the first named quantity. The big ship was thrown open to the public on the 7th. but visitors had not been very numerous.— Home News. THE CHANNEL FLEET. The gale which proved so fatal to many merchant ships, afforded an occasion for showing Avhat our Channel fleet could do under sucli circumstances. The scene in the Channel is thus described by a correspondent of the * Times '—

" The ships that" comprised the squadron under Rear-Admiral George Elliot, were tho Horo, Capt. Seymour, bearing the' Admiral's flag; the Trafalgar, Captain Faimhaw; the Donegal, Captain Gliutville; the Algiors, Captain O'Oallaghan; the Aboukir, Captain Sehomberg ; the Mersey, Captain Caldwell; the Emerald, and.Melpomene, Captain Ewart. The ships remained in Queenstown a week. On Saturday the Admiral received his orders to proceed with the fleet to sea. The harbour was filled with shipping, a fresh north wind blowing. The signal was mado about 9 a.m., 'Up 'propellers,' shortly followed by ' Weigh ; outward and leewardinost ships first.' This was immediately obeyed ; the Algiers led out under all sail, followed closely by the Aboukir, Melpomene, Emerald. Mersy, Trafalgar, and Hero ; the Donegal remained in port in consequence of-the illness of her'captain. The ships sailed out iii beautiful style, threading their way through a quantity of shipping. Nothing occurred at sea worthy of note until Monday morning. On that day the winds were light. The fleet was formed in line of battle, targets were hud out, and the whole forenoon was devoted to gunnery practice. The practice was extremely good, notwithstanding a good deal of rolling motion. On that afternoon several heavy storms of hail and sleet came from the N. W. and continued during, the night, with very variable winds. After quarters at sunset the topsails were double-reefed, and courses reefed for the the night. Variable winds still prevailed. Land was seen about the Land's End, anil the Lizard lights sighted at about daylight, 6.30 a.m. The weather set in very dirty at S.E., with increasing wind and heavy rain. The third reefs were taken iii tlie topsails about 9 a.m., and shortly after the top-gallant yards sent on deck ; top-gallant masts struck by signal ; and also a signal, ' Admiral will endeavour to go to Plymouth,'' Form two columns; form the line of battle.' About 10 a.m. signal, ' Prepare to move with bowers. Bend sheet cable.' The wind increased to a fury, with torrents of rain towards 11 a.ni., with very thick weather, the wind heading the ships off, so that it became very doubtful.if the sternmost ships could possibly get into the Sound, although it was probable the Hero and the headmost ships could get in. Admiral Elliot then, with the spirit of a British Admiral, decided at once (although he knew his exact position, having made the Eddystone Lighthouse) to wear the fleet together and stand off and face the gale. Although the leading ships were in good positions to wear, it was not so with those in rear of the line. The Aboukir had just passed the Eddystone; the Trafalgar and Emerald were still in the rear, the Trafalgar having been detained to pick up a man who had fallen overboarn from the jib-boom,, which was executed with great skill. The Aboukir immediately wore, set her courses, and dashed to windward of the lighthouse by carry iiig a press of sail, and weathered it half a mile, followed, closely hy the Mersey. The Algiers, Melpomene, and Trafalgar passed it very closely to the leeward, as the Hand Deeps were under their lee. Added to.these difficulties, there was a perfect fleet of trawlers, vessels unmanageable while their trawl is towing, so that it required the greatest skill to avoid running them down. What must have been the sight from the lighthouse—these leviathan ships darting about like dolphins round it in the fury of the storm, defying the elements, and the little trawlers, with their masts bending like reeds to the gale. The signal was made to get up steam to secure the safety of the ships. The ships then got their canvass reduced and.stood off the land. The Mersey and the Melpomene furled their sails, and got up steam, the former stalwart ship moving along like an ocean giant. , The gale still increased until about 3 p.m., remaining very thick with rain. About 3 it lifted, the wind fell, the sun shone ; but the sea remained towering up and breaking. The barometer then stood at about 28.50 degrees. The Hero, Trafalgar, Algiers, Aboukir, and Melpomene were not far separated. ; Signal made to' Form the order of sailing in. two columns.' This was partially executed when iri a squall, the wind shifted to N.W. It then for some three hours blew a perfect hurricane, considerably harder,than it had previously blown at S.E. The ships stood up well. The Hero, dauntless as her. name, appeared to take it easy.' The Aboukir, close to .leeward of her, carried one reef out of her maintopsail through the whole of it; and the' Algiers, the Trafalgar,and.the Melpomene were all doing well. The former eased up her topsail sheets in the squall. The Mersey and the Emerald, it is supposed, had steamed into Plymouth, as they were, not in sight. The ships kept in open order through the night; they wore in succession by night signal, at about 1 a.m., made the land at daylight near the Start Point, formed the line of battle by signal, got flic steam up, and carrying sail came up Channel at about eleven-knot speed, steamed into Portland, and took up their anchorage without the loss of a sail, spar, or a rope yarn. This appears highly creditable to newly organised ships—come only a few months together, the senior not a year; and I hope it. will tend to show that our mariners of England are not in that decay that some old gentlemen in the House of Commons are so glad to point out at all times and seasons. A little quiet organization—not a continual harrassing and worry, in in shifting sails and spars and killing men, but a fair exercise at guns, sails, &c, will make our fleet a credit to the country and a safegard to the nation." ,