DEPARTURE OF THE GREAT EASTERN, FOR AMERICA ON THE 24TH INSTANT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1398, 17 January 1860, Page 5

DEPARTURE OF THE GREAT EASTERN, FOR AMERICA ON THE 24TH INSTANT.

[From tjie Obskrver.}

Notwithstanding all the rumours, and confident assertions to the contrary, ibe anuouncemeut that tho »re;tt ship would before the end of the present mouth he far upon her vojage to the United States will be found to be correct. As at present decided, the vessel will leave Holy head on the 24th instant, There may be

a short delay beyond this date, but it will not extend Jo more than a day or two. The cause pfjlijs delay, if any, will arise from the inspection of tile ship and engines, in accordance with the terms of the contract with Mr. Scott Bussell previous to their final acceptance by the Company. The Directors are, it U stated, satisfied with the performance of the ship on the late trial trip. Some very extraordinary notions have been indulged in respecting the sneed which the ship was to make;, very far! exceeding the anticipations and calculations ofj Mr. Brunei, to whom the great ship owes its' origin. A short time only before his death he : stated most distinctly, to some- persons who', were talking of the ship's making twenty knots, that she was never designed for such a high rate of speed, and that bis calculations were that she would make the voyage from England to Calcutta or Sydney in from 32 to 36 days ; this he stated in the most confident fanner she would accom plish, the rate of speed required for that purpose i being only from 14 to 14£ knots per hour. The Great Eastern is not only the largest but the swiftest steamship in the world. None of Us rivals can carry coal for tnore than three weeks' consumption, the Great Eastern can take sufficient for the voyage to India or Australia antf back. The Queen's yacht is the fastest ship afloat, but she does not make more than 15 knots or eighteen miles an hour in her ordinary work. But the Victoria jrd Albert has engines of 1000 horses' powerfbirti tonnage of i ess than .3000. tons ; there one horse drags threeTonsriirthe Great Ea|iern oWhojse drags ten lons, and the ppeed of \he Jroyal yaoKt w not higher than that of the great ship. The consumption of coal of the Great Eastern, if taken at the highest-estimate of 250 tons per day, is still immensely below the proportion which, compared with other vessels, would be due to her size and speed.