y a fair idea of the
curious effect of the long, unbroken avenue of masts, sails, and
funnels,--like a whole street of steamships, if such a term is fairly
applicable.

The rate of going throughout the whole trip was very satisfactory.
Allowing for the want of trim on the part of the vessel, and consequent
absence of immersion in both screw and paddles, it was calculated from
this data, by all the nautical authorities on board, that, in proper
condition, the vessel might be depended on for eighteen miles an hour
throughout a long voyage, and under steam alone. That in a strong and
favourable breeze she would at times accomplish eighteen knots, or more
than twenty-one miles an hour, there was no reason to doubt.

Among other tests to which the _Great Eastern_ was subjected was the
terrible storm of the 25th and 26th October of that year, (1859), in
which the _Royal Charter_ went down. She lay at anchor in the harbour
of Holyhead during that storm. So fierce was the gale that a large part
of the breakwater was destroyed, and several vessels went down inside
the harbour, while some were driven on shore. For one hour the big ship
was as near destruction as she is ever likely to be. Her salvation,
under God, was due to the experience and energy of Captain Harrison and
his officers. During the whole gale the captain was on the watch,
sounding the lead to see if she dragged, and keeping the steam up to be
in readiness to put to sea at a moment's notice. The gale roared and
whistled through the rigging with indescribable fury. The captain, in
trying to pass along the deck, was thrown down, and his waterproof coat
was blown to ribbons. The cabin skylights were thrown open with a
fearful crash, the glass broken, and deluges of rain and spray poured
into the saloons. Two anchors were down, one seven tons, the other
three, with eighty and sixty fathoms of chain respectively; but the
ground was known to be bad, and the lee-shore rocky, while the waves
came curling and writhing into harbour, straining the cables to the
utmost, and dashing against the rocks like avalanches of snow. The dash
of these billows on the breakwater was like the roar of artillery. All
this time the red light at the end of the breakwater shone out cheerily
in the midst of a turmoil of spray. At last masses of the timber-work
and solid masonry gave way. The gale rose to its fiercest, and one huge
billow came rolling in; it towered high above the