384 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[December, 



l8t of December at the Board of Trade. — From the Noremher number of 

 the lifiilwaij Reriew, a new uell-arranged magazine of information respect- 

 ing Public Companies. 



NEW THEATRE AT LISBON. 



The architecture of this great work is of a most creditable character. 

 The building occupies one whole side of the most splendid square of Lis- 

 on, commonly known by its ancient name of Kocio, and stretching along 

 the heads of the three principal streets in ihe lower part of the city, usually 

 called by the English " Gold-street," " Silver-street,'' and '■ Cloth-street." 

 It is built on the site of the former Inquisition. In approaching the square 

 from any of these streets, the theatre is seen to great advantage. It has 

 received Ihe appropriate name of the " Theatre of Oonna Maria Segunda." 

 Us facade is very attractive, and may be even described as magnificent. 

 The entire building has the advantage of being constructed of the native 

 Lioz stone, which, in fineness of texture and purity of colour, far exceeds 

 even Portland stone, and very nearly approaches to marble. The building 

 is of the Ionic order, constructed in accordance with Palladio-classic 

 ideas, and is adorned with a fine portico of six handsome Ionic columns, 

 crowned by a bold pediment, which is lo be filled with a sculptured alto- 

 relievo in marble representing Apollo surrounded by Ihe Muses, and to be 

 surmounted with an appropriate marble statue over each of the three 

 angles. The columns of the portico are raised upon massive bases, and 

 further thrown up by being placed over seven easily receding steps. In 

 front of each exterior column rises a second basement, surmounted by a 

 rich lamp, and two other lamps are thrown out with fine effect at the end 

 of the side-steps ascending to the atrium. The extent of the building may 

 be inferred from the fact that its front contains two rows of 17 windows 

 each, surmounted by bassi relievi and upper semicircular windows. The 

 windows at the sides are thrown into very rich and ellective groups, to 

 which a fine Ionic character has been cleverly imparted ; and at the %vest 

 end a covered arcade, extending to the length of five boldly-turned arches, 

 and relieved by an elegant balustrade, affords to the visitors to the theatre 

 the great advantage in wet weather of being set down and taken up in 

 their carriages under complete cover. In this respect there is no theatre 

 ID London which can compete with the new Lisbon theatre. The entrance 

 hall and staircase are likewise very commodious and elegant, most cer- 

 tainly not surpassed, and probably not equalled, by anything in Europe. 

 The roof is supplied with what is termed iu Portuguese a terracn, an- 

 svirering to the azotea of Andalusian and Buenos Ayrean houses, and pre- 

 sents a large space for cool promenading to enjoy the fresco of this south- 

 ern climate. Great forethought and provision for universal convenience 

 and comfort have evidently presided both over the design and its execu- 

 tion. The architect is Senhor Lodi, brother-in-law of the Count de Far- 

 robo, and the work does him very great honour. 



The theatre was commenced in the spring of 1843, and its cost it 

 SO.OOOi. The rapidity and completeness of its execution, as well as the 

 moderate cost for which so brilliant a work has been produced, do great 

 credit to the Portuguese. 



The interior of the theatre even exceeds its exterior splendour. No- 

 thing could surpass the dazzling magnificence of the decorations, unless, 

 perhaps, the pure taste and elegance which presided at their distribution. 

 The house is about the size of Drury-lane Theatre, and internally of 

 nearly the same form, the stage well up and forward, and the facilities for 

 hearing perfect. It preserves its national character iu this respect, that 

 there are four tiers of boxes, with the royal box iu the centre, occupying 

 a portion of nearly three tiers, and surmounted by a rich crown, with an 

 extensive gallery all over head. But the jealous old Portuguese, half- 

 Moorish system of shutting up each box from the inspection of all its 

 neighbours, has been happily replaced by the interposition merely of light 

 arabesque columns of white and gold, which enables every one to see 

 every one else in the theatre. The ceiling and chandelier are most superb, 

 and the stalls are judiciously arranged in a single row all round the pit. 

 The entire internal decoration is in white and gold, and the royal box is 

 supported on each side by handsome caryatides. 



DESTRUCTION OF THE SCREAV PROPELLER OF THE 

 GREAT BRITAIN STEAM VESSEL. 



The Great Britain arrived at Liverpool, Oct. 4. During her passage 

 she was partially disabled by the breaking of her propeller, and in conse- 

 quence the principal portion of the passage was performed under sail. 

 Some extracts from her log given below cannot fail to be interesting to the 

 engineer. They seem to fully prove the capabilities of this important ves- 

 sel as a sailer. 



Oct. 18th. — Saturday noon went on sectional dock ; found two arms 

 gone close to the boss, and one blade ; shifted the blade of our remaining 

 arm to the opposite side, and secured the other blades ; the rivets were 

 nearly all loose ; came off the dock. 



22d. — Wednesday afternoon, commenced coaling immediately, and cargo 

 next day. 



26th. — All coals, near 1,000 tons, in by o'clock Sunday morning ; 

 cargo all in Monday night. 



28th. — Started at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, with low steam, cut off at 13 in. 

 ship in good trim. 18 ft. 8 inches, 17 ft. 6 in., and going well until 11 p.m. 

 Ihe 30th, when we found something wrong with Ihe propeller, and striking 

 the stern-post very hard ; reversed the engines, and, after two or three 

 good thumps, the arm broke off. 



Went on with very low steam, cut off at 12 inches, steered by the sails; 

 wind north-easterly ; ship making very good way, seven to nine knots, 

 until Friday, the 1st, about 3 p.m., when another of the arms of the pro- 

 peller broke, leaving only one, I think the repairing one, and the half of 

 another, with a small plate we had put on the end of it. 



Wind hauled to the southward and south-westerly ; made the most of 

 our sails, and very fair way, just keeping the propeller from dragging, at 

 times going 10 knots. 



Nov. 3. — Wind fell to a calm on the evening of the 3rd, making 5 knots, 

 and in the course of the night came a-head, a moderate breeze from the 

 eastward, and little swell, ship making 3J knots against it. 



4th. — Have been economising water and provisions since we broke first 

 arm off, and estimate we have at least 30 days, from to-day, of everything, 

 without going on short allowance. 



5th. — Very fine weather, with N.E. swell ; wind veered round to the 

 N.W. and squally, then to N.E. and easterly. 



6th. — Made use of our sails, whenever there was a chance, within three 

 points of her course ; she feels them directly, and has, I think, very supe- 

 rior sailing qualities. Every appearance of westerly winds the last three 

 days, but have been disappointed so far; yet we have made, under the 

 circumstances, very good way indeed. 



The propeller, or what is left of it, has done wonders, at times making 

 four knots against a moderate easterly wind, and N.E. swell, rather high. 

 Wind hauling fromeastward to southward this morning, and, I think, looks 

 well for a south-wester very soon ; making 8^, close as she can lay, with 

 fore and aft sails, reefed topsail and mainsail ; this is good decidedly. 



Abont a quarter past 5 Ihe remaining arm of the propeller broke, leaving 

 only a half-arm, and the small piece of another, about two feet from the 

 centre. 



Cut steam down as low as possible, going all night, with a fine southerly 

 breeze. 



8th. — At Ih. 20m. p.m., stopped the engines, with the half-arm vertical ; 

 moderate southwesterly winds ; all sails we can carry set. Wind fresh- 

 ened gradually to a gale from the westward ; reefed topsail, and off bon- 

 nets of spencers ; sea rising fast ; increased breezes lo fresh gales, and 

 hard squalls and high sea; mainsail, topsail, and one spencer set, ship 

 scudding and steering beautifully, taking a spray on larboard-quarter and 

 beam occasionally, but as easy, or easier, than any ship I ever knew. 



10th. — Passed a large ship hove to with maintopsail and foresail ; dirty 

 rainy weather; dead lights all closed, scuttles, Sec, well secured. 



llth. — Wind moderating and hauling to the northward; made all sail 

 on her; wind lo the N.E. and E. Noon. — Saw two ships ahead, and 

 came up with them, at the rate of two miles an hour, closs hauled. This 

 is wonderful with our little spread of canvass, and more than I expected, 

 well as I thought of her sailing qualities. Wind variable, and getting 

 light. 



12th.— Light breezes inclined to the N.W. again ; a ship in sight that 

 we are coming up with as fast as those yesterday. 



13th. — A light breeze from the N.W.; increased to a moderate breeze 

 and fine weather ; a ship astern at daylight ; ran her out of sight by noon. 

 Wind fell light again in the evening. 



14th.— A breeze sprang up from S.W. ; made all sail ; at noon increased 

 to a gale ; double-reefed topsail and off bonnets of spencers ; dirty rainy 

 weather, and sea rising fast; moderating, and hauling lo the W.N.W. in 

 Ihe evening. 



15ih.— Moderate and cloudy; high N.AV. swell; made all sail; 8h. 

 30m. lighted tires; increased to strong breezes, and squally, southerly, very 

 thick, dirty, rainy weather. 



16th.— Daylight; cleared off, and saw the mizen-head ; a fine breeze all 

 day ; running 10 ami 11 knots. 



i7th.— At Ih. SOm. passed the Tuskar ; 11 off Holyhead; 1 p.m. off 

 Point Lynas; 8 p.m. got a pilot and steam-tugs off N.W. light vessel ; 

 waiting for water. 



Captain Hosken, Ihe commander, had the gratification of receiving a 

 most flattering address from the passengers, testifying the zeal and prudence 

 with which he discharged his duties under the difficulties of the voyage. 

 The following passages from the address amply confirm Ihe opinion ex- 

 pressed in the log of the excellence of the Great Britain as a sailing vessel 



" The Great Britain left New York on the 28th ult. with every prospect 

 of making a good passage. It is true that on her outward trip she met 

 with an accident lo her propeller, which rendered important repairs neces- 

 sary before leaving on her return to Liverpool; and these were done in a 

 manner which was hoped to be efficient and substantial. 



" Scarcely, however, had she been at sea 48 hours when an accident oc- 

 curred similar to that which befel her on the previous passage — the loss of 

 one of Ihe arms of the propeller. Again, and when but a few days longer 

 at sea, two more of the arms of the propeller were carried away, and the 

 ship was now so far disabled that her commander deemed it prudent to 



