THE LEVIATHAN LAUNCHED.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 1, Issue 35, 22 May 1858, Page 6

THE LEVIATHAN LAUNCHED.

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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 oil" until the following day. On Saturday, the 30th, all efforts were abandoned in consequence of the state of the weather. The wind was blowing strong from the westward, and on niea-sui-ing its force on the broadside of the vessel, it was ascertained that it was above three times in excess of the hauling power, so that the result of letting the huge vessel iloat would probably have been only her going on shore immediately afterwards.

On Sunday morning, however, things wore a much 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 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 his hand, controlling the hauling power ; and the four steam tugs were ready, close 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 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 foot, 13 feet, 14 feet, were successively announced, as each hollow reverberating sound announced another great sub-aqueous push from the ram. All eyes became now fixed upon the vessel, and at 11 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 immense hawsers, now began to pull, and for a few moments might be seen to roll as if in the agony of their exertions, wliile the huge vessel looked as if she did not mean to yield to their efforts. But her apparent stillness was, in fact, 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 Petrr run up to the fore announced that the Leviathan was at length fairly afloat.

It might have bren supposed that after so many disappointments the public would have been fairly tired out, and that the final denouement of the launching operations would have been permitted 10 pass off in comparative solitude. But not so. As soon us 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 siiccessive 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 her successful launch as a national event.