1840.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



177 



" the Lion of Eiiglaml," and " Kagic of America." Tlic padille Iwxes are 

 comparatively very slightly raised above Iter bulnarks ; anil her general ap- 

 pearance is, when her side is viewed, that of a first class frigate of extraordi- 

 nary size, her light rigging given her at the same time a most rakish and 

 mischievous appearance. 



The following arc the dimensions : — 



Feet. In. 



Ijenglh over all. from taffrail to figure-head 273 



lieam wiihin the paddle-boxes 41 



Breadth fVom oilsiile of paddle boxes 72 4 



Depth of hold 30 



Height between the main and spar deck 8 C 



lleight between loMrr and main deck fbolh Ikish) 7 8 



Tonnage supposed 2500. 



Those who are versed in maritime aH'airs will readily conceive from these 

 dimensions that we are warranted in slating 'ihnt the President, is in reality, 

 •' a wooden world.'' She is indeed, more — slie is a world not only of wood, 

 but of iron, copper, and other materials, constituting the ne plus ullrn of 

 strength in naval .indiiteeture. 



The President was laiilt at Limehouse. London, by Messrs. Curling and 

 Carter, the latter gentleman superintending her construction throughout. 

 Ketween decks and in her holds slip presents a perfect [licture of strength ; 

 and we cannot more highly compliment our metropolitan friends and 

 contemporaries in Transjanlic Steam Navigation, than by stating that 

 they seem in materials, in fastenings, and in putling together, to have taken 

 a leaf out of the i-ook of our townsmen Messrs. ^\'ilson and Co., whose vessels 

 both in point of strength and sailing have hitherto borne the bell. 



K\ery available modern improvement has been taken advantage of in the 

 constru'clion of the President, lo addition to a remarkably strong frame, 

 solid to the bilge, she is diagonally fastened fore and aft with iron and wood, 

 in a m.-uiner that would seem to defy the rudest assaults of the ocean wave. 

 We have not lime to enler into details. Suffice it to say, that the materials 

 of the Presiileiit ihroughout arc of the best quality, and that the utmost 

 science, in a scientific age, has been exerted to work them to the best advan- 

 tage. 



The engines for this vessel will be of about ( 00 horse power. They are 

 already built by our townsmen JJessrs. Fa« cett and Co., and present a splendid 

 specimen of the ingenuity ami enterprise of the age. 



Tbe /Vi-.svV/r/K' will present peculiar advantages for passengers. Her spar- 

 deck will allord a long and delightful promenade in fine weather, and during 

 rain or storms a dry and sheltered walk may be enjoyed below. 



The cabins are not yet fitted up. The principal or stern saloon will be 

 eighty-seven feet in length ; its breadth (including the small state rooms on 

 each side) forty -one leel. 



No expense has been spared to 'render the President a crack ship. In 

 strength of materials and hdelily of workmanship, she is ftdly equal to any 

 of her Majesty's ships of war ; and is fitted up « ilh all the modern improve- 

 ments in pumps, tanks, &c. She is also divided into sections, so that the 

 springing of a leak (should such take place) would be attended with com- 

 paratively tritiing danger. It is calculated that the Presiileiit will carry 1.000 

 tims of gi'Ods beyond her compliment of coals, luggage, and materials for a 

 trans- Atlantic \oyage. Her steering tackle is of novel and improved con- 

 struction ; and such w'as required ; for, from her length and size,, she may be 

 deemed a floating island. 



The agents of the President at this port, are Mr. Pim, of the St. George's 

 Steam-packet Company, and Mr. Maegregor Laird, brother of Mr. Laird, of 

 Nortli Birkenhead, the celebrated builder of Iron ships. — Liverpool Courier. 



Tlie Sons of the Tlmmcs.— This vessel which we nolicel in the last January 

 number is now fairly belbrc the public, and fully sustains the speed wc then 

 announced ; she cclijises all the Gravesend steamers. 



Steom-Pacie/s to the Wrsf Indies. — The directors of the Royal Mail Steam- 

 Packet Company have, with laudable promptitude, contracted for the building 

 and machinery for the requisite number of steamers. Three are to be of 

 12o0 tons burden, and arc in regard to the form and the cabins, of a superior 

 construction. They will be ready for sea in the autumn of next year, when 

 our splendid colonics in the West Indies will be brought practically as near 

 to us as were, not long ago, many parts of the United Kingdom to tlie me- 

 tropolis. It would be ditficult to exaggerate the beneficial eti'ects which may 

 flow from this change, but we shall not dilate on the subject at present. 

 Many of our readers ai-e aware that some controversy has arisen about the 

 route that ought to be adopted with a view to the convenience of all the in- 

 terests concerned, and it is doubtless a question which deserves full conside- 

 ration. We understand the Government has the power of altering the course 

 of the packets as circnmstanccs may render expedient. — Colonial Gazelle. 



Steam Mail Paciets. — Government having orilered a weekly mail to be 

 conveyed by steam from Hull to Christiansaud and Goltenburgli, a contract 

 for the transit has lieen taken by Messrs. AVilsoii, Hudson, and Co., of this 

 port, and by whom two competent steam-vessels, of the Ih-st class, will be 

 immediately placed on the station. The service is to commence on the 2d of 

 next month. The passage which will be imperatively undertaken at specific 

 hours, to and from the Eastern ports, will afford a safe and certain convey- 

 ance, and thereby give an additional impetus to commercial enterprise. — Hull 

 Times. 



Britisii Queen. — This noble vessel arri\ed at Portsmouth, fin Thursday 

 morning, ISth ult., in 14 days from New York. 



The ^' Lee^^ Iron Steam Barge has been fitted with Halls patent reefing 

 paddles, and at the beginning of last month made several trips on the Thames, 

 ofl Greenwitli, to sliow the action of reeling the paddles, both when the barge 



was laden and unladen. The action is very simple, in outward appearance 

 the paddle wdicel being similar to the common one. — although upon inspection 

 it will be found very dilTerent. On the shaft of the wheel is a large iron disc 

 about 2 ft. Gin. radius, composed of two plates of metal; the iviside face of 

 one of them, contains a spiral groove, in which plugs are accurately fitted, 

 and fixed to the inner end of sliding arms of iron, fiiese arms are attached at 

 the other or outer end to the float boards, when it is necessary to contract 

 the size of the wheel; the disc is turned round by the aid of a winch, and as 

 it turns round, the plugs fitted to the spiral are gradually drawn up, as the 

 radius of the spiral groove gets smaller; and when it is requisite to enlarge 

 the diameter, the disc is turned in the opposite direction, by this means the 

 plugs attached to the movealjle iron arm are graflually drawn into the spiral 

 groove of a larger radius and fores out the float boards. By this simple con- 

 trivance, the wheels of the " Lee" can be contracted from a large diameter to 

 a small diameter. For such a vessel as the "Lee"' it is highly valuable, as she 

 is to be engaged by the spirited pioprietiu', Mr. Lee, the extensive lime bur- 

 ner and brick maker, to convey lime from his works up the Medway to 

 Limlon, and occasionally to be employed as a tow boat for bringing up the 

 other vessels when the wind sets directly against them, sometimes this is his 

 case for several days, and we have known instances of London being almost 

 without a yard of lime. We have no doubt this spirited cflbrtef Mr. Lee will 

 cause several iron barges to appear on the Thames before many months have 

 passed over. Tlie ''Lee" is an iron vessel built by Messrs. Ditchbuni and 

 Slair, and furnished with two oscillating engines by Messrs. Penn and Son of 

 Greenwich: — the various experiments proved very satisfactory. 



ENGINESRING "WORKS. 



■WESTMINSTER BRIDGE. 



In a former number (23), we described briefly the construction of this in- 

 teresting bridge, and the works that had been carried on for many years by 

 the late Mr. Telford for protecting its foundations, rendered iuseciu-e by the re- 

 moval of old London bridge. We also explained the extent of improvements 

 contemplated by the commissioners, »nd the manner in which they were 

 being executed "by Mr. Cuhitt, contractor, under the direction of Messrs. 

 Walker and Biirges. 



We have now the gratification of recording the rapid progress of the works, 

 and of congratiflating the public on the immense advantages they are likely 

 to derive from the enlightened views of the Commissioners, who in addition 

 to the extensive improvements referred to, have decided on widening the road- 

 way 12 feet, thus making it e(iual in width to London bridge. The two piers 

 that were inclosed in the dam have been extended for that purpose, and five 

 courses of the soflit of the arch on each side already completed. The ditticully 

 of executing this work can be appreciated only by those who are acquainted 

 with the construction of the foundations on caissons, and a description of the 

 method adopted must be interesting. 



By referring to the plan and section in the number afliided to, it will be 

 seen that the intention then was to carry the sheet piling completely round 

 the pier, at a short distance from the caisson to prevent the condensed ground 

 disturbing the framework, afterwards to fill ni) this space and the openings 

 in the grating with brick, anil thus form a solid bed for the Koche Portland 

 pavement. "This was done as far as the angles of the south cutwater — the 

 part of the caisson at tbat-extremity was then partially removed, and bearing 

 piles of beech, 10 feet long by 9 inches diameter, driven 3 feet apart over 

 the space on which the extended pier ami cutw.ater were to he erected, and 

 the sheet piling continued round ; on the bearing piles were spiked double 

 sills of nieiuel tir crossing over the pUes, and of scanthngs to bond with the 

 caisson, and form a grating the same height, the openings were filled up with 

 brick, and G in. York landings, upon which a course of Koche Portland stone 

 was laid, extending over the whole space, and bevelled off towards the sheet 

 piling, uniform with the pavement surroimdingthe pier. The Portland stone 

 on each side of the pier was cut out to a deptli of 1 ft. Ij in. and 2 feet 6 in., 

 and courses of Bromley fall stone inserted, and carried round on the new 

 foundations; thus the .appearance of the piers and soflit of the arch, as high 

 as the toj) of the fifth course from the springing, is the same as if built at one 

 period. The north cutwaters restored h\" the late Mr. Telford were not 

 distm-hed. 



The sluices of the dam were opened on the 13th nlf. at high water, the 

 dam having remained cpiite dry and secure from the time it was closed. 



The work both for execution and quahty of material cannot be sufticientiy 

 admired, and the piers will resist for centuries the attacks of the elements 

 they have to contend with. 



The dam round the next two piers is now partly forincd, and when the 

 water has been excluded, we promise our readers an account of the sunken 

 pier that excited the greatest interest about 100 years ago. 



IVyrleij and Biiininghaiii Canals. — About twelve months ago an arrange- 

 ment was made for consolidating the Wyrley and Essington Canal Company 

 with the Birmingham Canal Company, and we observe that on the 14th 

 ultimo the Act of Parliament for carrying that arrangement into efi'ect re- 

 ceived the royal assent. This union will not only he of great advantage to 

 the proprietor's, hut also to the public, as the united company are going to lay 

 out upwards of £120,000. in making two new lines of canal lo connect the 

 Wyrley and Essington canal with the lower level of the Biimingham canal, 

 y one of which the mines in the ueighbomrhood of Wedneslield and WiUen- 

 all will be brought into the market; and by the other the lower part of the 



