136 



THE SEA. 



answered her helm. The advent of the great ship had been expected in America with 

 an eagerness which cast into the shade even the interest taken in her at home. She 

 was a great and startling "fact." Therefore, no sooner was her arrival telegraphed, than 

 the bay was studded with yachts, schooners, and steam-ships, whose passengers marked 

 every portion of her progress with vociferous cheers ; all the ships were covered with 

 flags, the bells rang out, the cannon roared, the wharfs and houses were crowded with 

 enthusiastic welcomers. Even the Government Fort Hamilton fired a salute of fourteen 



A1UUVAL OF THE " GHEAT EASTEIIN " AT NEW YORK. 



guns. The return voyage was uneventful. In May, 1861, she again started from Milford 

 Haven for New York, on an ordinary passenger voyage, and made a .very successful, but 

 not very rapid, passage of nine days thirteen and a half hours, the greatest distance run 

 in one day being 410 statute miles. She commenced the return voyage on the 25th May, 

 and arrived off Liverpool in nine and a half days, running in one day 416 statute miles. 



When civil war in the United States forced on the English Government the fact of 

 the defenceless state of Canada, it was resolved to send out reinforcements with the 

 greatest speed, and the Great Eastern was taken up as a troop-ship to convey 2,500 men, 

 100 officers, and 122 horses. In addition to these, were about 350 wives and children of 

 the soldiers. She sailed from the Mersey on the 27th of June, and made her voyage with 



