j 
_ six or seven minutes to the passage between Holyhead and Kingstown, taking 
_ the present course at 57 knots, or a little over 651 statute miles; the exten- 
sion of the great breakwater having added more than a knot to the distance 
given in the Admiralty Returns as having been performed by the ‘ Banshee,’ 
the ‘ Llewellyn,’ and other packets in 1849-50. A speed of 174 knots, or 
20 statute miles per hour, on the trial trip, allows a safe margin for making the 
passage commonly in four hours, the time proposed by Government; but this 
large margin has not in practice been found too much. Again, it may be 
observed, that there is a considerable difference in running a few times by 
the measured mile, when all is tasked for a short time to the utmost, and 
making a single complete passage of the Channel, even under favourable 
aircumstances. Thus, while the ‘ Connaught’ attained a speed of 202 statute 
miles an hour on her trial trip, her shortest passage of the Channel occupied 
three hours and fourteen minutes, being at the rate of about 20 miles an 
hour. The shortest passage of the ‘ Leinster’ was made in three hours and 
twenty minutes ; that of the ‘ Ulster’ in three hours and eighteen minutes, 
and of the ‘Munster’ in three hours and twenty-six minutes. But the 
average performance of the vessels for the two years and five months, up to 
May 1863, during which they have been on service is still closer. Inclusive 
of all passages made in fogs, gales, &c., 
ON STEAMSHIP PERFORMANCE. 349 
5 
h 
The ‘Connaught’ made 1064 in the average time of 3 51:5 
The ‘ Leinster’ ss 919 x 3 52:5 
The ‘ Ulster’ x 925 + 3 55 
and the‘ Munster’ ,, 920 e 3 58:1 
So close a performance by the four vessels, not identical, and not all from 
the same builders and engineers, could scarcely have been anticipated. The 
longest passage made in the severest gales has not exceeded five hours and 
forty minutes, and one vessel only has been that length of time on but two 
occasions. The previous packets were retarded by the weather to a far 
greater degree. The ‘ Banshee’ has taken nearly eight hours to cross the 
_ Channel; the ‘ Llewellyn,’ the ‘ Caradoc,’ and the ‘ St. Columba’ still more. 
Nearly four thousand passages have been already made up to May 1863, 
without collision, except on one occasion, which happily was not attended 
with very serious consequences. Experienced naval officers anticipated fre- 
“quent and serious disasters ; but the rate of speed, 16 miles an hour, though 
high for night-work, does not appear to have been too high for safety. The 
sense of greater responsibility, and the larger number of men engaged in the 
navigation and management of the vessels, must naturally induce additional 
precaution, as well as afford the means of guarding against danger. The 
facility with which these large vessels are handled and brought alongside the 
jetties is remarkable. The practised skill of the officers, and the quickness 
with which the engines are managed, frequently succeed in getting the ves- 
‘sels alongside, in making them fast, establishing the means of communication 
with the shore, and in landing the mails in three or four minutes. 
_ The consumption of coal in the first few months was considerably in excess 
‘of the quantity originally estimated. Steam of from 25 Ibs. to 28 Ibs. pres- 
_ ‘Sure was then used, which not only required much extra coal, but severely 
_ taxed the durability of the boilers. Arrangements were therefore made to 
_ reduce the consumption to the amount stated in the estimates submitted to 
Government, on which the contract was founded. The result has been satis- 
factory, while the additional time occupied on the passages is but a few 
minutes, and they are still made on the average within the time allocated to 
