either in the big ship, herself, or in the next vessel built from the experience which she would suggest. The monster vessel was a prominent mark to signalise a great era in ship-building and maritime communication. We are essentially a sea-going people, and it was not surprising that even at that time that in steam navigation we had made rapid progress within the memory of living men. It was then but 70 years since the first rude attempt was made by Symington on the Forth and Clyde Canal, and less than 60 years that a similar attempt had been made on the Thames. What a history of subsequent progress! In 1812 steam saw the first steam vessel at all worthy of the name on the bosom of Father Thames. In 1889 we were in ecstacies of admiration with the Great Western as we were with the Great Eastern, twenty years later. The Atlantic was first crossed by steam in 26 days in 1819, and in 1825, the first steam voyage was made to India. But even then we had no war steamer. Since that period, our steam marine has been continually improving, and although of late years, a few other nations have folled us closely, we have still the greatest number of steam-ships which are the admiration of civilisation. The Great Eastern was a triumph, but was not destined to be the crowning one. To suppose that no improvement was made upon it and that no larger vessel would be built would have been to shut our eyes to the teaching of history. But even then we anticipated great results from the triumph of enterprise. She would bring America a few days and India several days nearer to us. Rapidity of communication is in itself a powerful revolutionary agent. It brings in its train increased commerce, opens up new fields of enterprise, and draws more closely together the bonds of international union. These, in turn exhibit new developments, and so the work of human progress goes on. The population which the Great Eastern would carry was not the least marvel of her features. At one voyage she could take out enough people to colonise an uninhabited island, with every appliance of civilisation. She could land troops to quell a rebellion or to reinforce an army with a speed that might probably crush a war at the opening of a campaign. When she was first launched, there were political breakers ahead which it was thought and feared might induce the Government to charter the great ship for other purposes than those for which she was originally designed.
The Great Eastern off Hastings
On the said 9th of September, this gigantic vessel whose first essay on her own element had been the great event of the week, created quite a sensation in these towns in consequence of it having been known that she was likely to pass in view of Hastings and St Leonards on her way to Portland. As early as 12 O'clock, persons were on the look-out for the least glimpse of the noble ship, it having been reported that she had been telegraphed within sight of -
