MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 



41 



appreciated, but they will be understood from the principal measure- 

 ments of the Atrato, and those of the largest ship-of-war in the British 

 service, the Windsor Castle, now on the stocks at Pembroke Dock 

 Yard, which is stated to be " the largest vessel in the world." Their 

 principal measurements are : 



THE ATRATO. Feet. 



Length of keel, 310 



Do. of keel and forerake, 340 



Breadth of beam, ' 52 



Depth of hold, 34 



WINDSOR CASTLE. Feet. 



Length extreme, 278 



Do. of keel and forerake, 2401 



Breadth, 2o" 



Depth of hold, 24 



It would thus appear that the Atrato will be about GO feet longer 

 than the " largest vessel in the world," and about 1 feet deeper in 

 the hold ; the only dimension by which she is exceeded by the Wind- 

 sor Castle being in the breadth of beam, and in that particular the 

 builders were bound down by the existing machinery, which as above 



* flj * ' 



stated, was made for the Demerara, a much shorter vessel. The floor 

 of the new steamer will have a rise of four feet at the flattest part, so 

 that the easy curves afforded by such a sweep of midship section, 

 combined with the enormous length, can only be appreciated by those 

 conversant with ship-building. There are to be four decks ; the upper 

 or spar deck being flush from stem to stern, and presenting a prom- 

 enade of about 330 feet in length, by about 38 in breadth. The hull 

 is to be divided into seven compartments by six iron water-tight bulk 

 heads, extending from the keel to the main deck. This will give 

 rigidity to the hull, and afford security against sinking. 



A new and beautiful steamer, called the " Light of Heaven," has 

 been recently launched at Glascow, for the Pacha of Egypt. Her 

 engines are of 300 horse power, and of the most beautiful make and 

 finish. The fittings of the interior are gorgeous beyond comparison, 

 consisting of papier-mache ornaments and rich brocaded silks, which 

 will alone cost Si 25,000. The ceiling of the saloon will be divided 

 into a number of panels of rich white silk, having upon the centre the 

 device of the crescent and the star, encircled with most elaborate and 

 richly colored wreaths of Eastern flowers of silk. The borders of 







the panels are to be richly ornamented Raffaelesque decorations. 

 Other portions of the ceiling between the beams, are to be covered 

 with a silk of a white ground and groups of flowers of gold thread. 

 The panels on the sides are of papier-mache. The ottomans in the 

 saloon are covered with cloth of gold, formed with a warp of gold and 

 a weft of glass thread. The awning of the deck is to be formed of 

 entirely brocaded silk, the fringe being of gold and costing twenty 

 guineas per yard. The cost of the silk for the awning alone will not 

 be less than $10,000. 



A new steamer has recently been built in England, with the follow- 

 ing remarkable proportions. Her length exceeds 200 feet ; while her 

 breadth is little more than 13 feet. She is fitted with engines of 80 

 horse power. Her wheels, which are on the feathering principle, are 



