THE FASTEST PASSAGE TO MELBOURNE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 464, 11 February 1869, Page 3

THE FASTEST PASSAGE TO MELBOURNE.

The new ship Thermopylae, of Thomson, jun., and Co.'s well'known line of ■Vberdeeu clippers, anchored in Hobson Bay on Saturday night from Loudon, after an unquestionably Splendid passage, and oue of the quickest ever made to that port, from the old country, a 9 she left London docks on the 6lh November. The intelligence brought by the s.s. Coorong, on Friday, January S, that she had signalled the new ship about noon ou Wednesday, some thirty miles to the westward of Cape Otway, fifty-eight days out, was the t!*eme of general comment in shipping and commercial circles, aud was at first scarcely credited. The great ocean racing ground from London and Liverpool to China has hitherto had a monopoly of the finest and fleetest ships iu the world, ar.dno expense has been spared in eonstrrction and equipment to establish for each latest addition to the China clippers, the reputation of being able to '" beat everything afloat." The ' honors " now, however,, instead of being all on one side as hitherto, are likely to be '* divided." Remarkably rapid as previous achievements have

been, they have been altogether excelled in the present instance by this performance of the Thermopylae on her maiden yoyage, the most brilliant that has ever been made to this port. The Thermopylae at anchor is quite a picture—so taunt and trim—and the most fastidious nautical critic would be fain to acknowledge that for J beauty and gracefulness of outline it wou d be difficult to improve upon her. Site has a fine clipper entr.iuce and a splendid run, and has evidently been built to sail, and the expectations formed with regard to her " going " capabilities have been amply borne out. The Thermopylae is constructed on the composite principle, and was built by Messrs Walter Hood and Co., of Aberdeen, who have turned out some crack clipper ships in their time, but nothing so near perfection as their present achievement. She is the latest addition to Messrs George Thompson, jun., and Co.'s fleet, and is intended expressly for the Australian and China trade, to run with the new tea.— Argus.