this mighty fabric. so beautiful as a whole, is made up of inpnmsnblepispes of ponderoln maul, , _inted, an iveted into each other with ex -_deftness. The keel con- slate of several bars of iron about 35 feet in length “on joined together by long soarb, and as a whole 13 inches deep h 4; inches thick. The framing is construe in a manner at once peculiar, and securing the greatest possible amount of strengh. The iron stern- st is thirteen inches in breadth by ﬁve inc 0| in thickness, carrying the rudder, the stock of which is eight inches in diameter. The fram- ing of the ship is very heavy. T110 I 09 between each frame is only ten inches, an the werful frames or ribs are thgmsslves ten inches deep, with double angle-ii-one at the outer and inner edges. he _ w is construct- ed in a manner at once peculiar a_nd_ affording the greatest possible strength to this important part of the ship. The framin is placed nor- mally to the stern, the effect 0 which i_s that, in the case of collision with other shi s, or with rocks, or icebergs, the strain wou_ d fell upon the very strongest material within the structure, and the Persia would have _a good chance of safety and succpssful resistance, while ordinary vessels would indeed be in great eril. It is true, that the Cunard liners, _dur- ing their long career, have been alm_ost_ entirely exem t from maritime disaster; still it is_not less p casing and praiseworthy, that the British and North American Steam Ship _Company readily seize all the appliances of science and of art, and think rather of what may happen than of what has not happened. The admirably constructed bow (whic we cannot_ explain further without becoming too technical) is, we believe, an original adaptation of the Messrs. Napier, and is likely to be introduced by and by into all future iron-built ocean-going steam- ers. She is not clinker-built, as some ships have been constructed of late. The plates or outer planking of the ship, so to speak, are laid alternately, so that one adds stren th to the other, and they form a whole of won erful compactness and solidit . The keel lates are 21-l6ths ofan inch in tiicknoss ; at t e bottom of the ship the plates are ll-l6ths of an inch in thickness ; from this section to the load water line they are zths of an inch ; and above this they are 11-l6ths ofan inch in thickness. The plates round the gunwale are gths of an inch in thickness.

The Persia has seven water-tight compart- ments. These goods’ stores, or rather tanks, are placed in the centre line of the ship, with the coal cellars or bunkers on each side of them. At the same time the vessel is so constructed as to have in reality a double bottom under these

ood chambers, so that if the outer were beaten in or injured, the inner would, in all likelihood,

rotect the car 0 dry and intact. The cham- bers are perfee y water-tight ; and in the event of accident to the hull. these tanks would of themselves float the ship.

AMERICAN SHIPS FOR THE CZAR.

COPINIIAGAN, Jami l8.—About two years ago a Danish naval oﬂicer, Captain Moller, went to New York, as agent for the Russian govern- ment, to engage American shi builders to send in drawings and plans, as t e Czar intended having a number of large ships of war built in the United States. Among others, Captain Moller a lied to the eminent shipowner and builder, Vunderbildt, who, induced by the hopes of pocketing a few millions of the Csar's spare roubles, resolved to go over to St. Peters- bur himself, and pa his personal respects to the ‘mperor. This ed to the famous ex di- tion of the North Star, which Mr. Vander ildt fitted out as a rivate yacht, and in which, as will be in tie recollection of your readers, he visited, in the company of a select number of his friends, not only St. Petersbnrg and the north of Europe, but made a cruise up the

Mediterranean, and proceeded as far as Con- d

stantinople before returning to America.

‘Mr. \anderbildt's speculation turned out. however, as far as ho was concerned, to be an unfortunate one, for, on arriving at St. Peters- burgh, he was dsily informed, that the Russian Admiralty only intended to enter into contracts for screw-steamers.

As soon as Captain Moller heard that Mr. Vandcrbildt had not succeeded in making a contract with the Russian Government, be ap- plied to another New York shipbuilder, whose name I send you in conﬁdence, and made him similar offers. This gentleman immediately went to St. Pctersburg in a less ostentatious

style than his predecessor, but with better"

success, for in six weeks he returned with a contract in his pocket for a screw 84 gun ship of the first class. The keel of this vessel was laid in the presence of three Russian naval ofiicers, who had been previousl sent to the United States for that and other usiness, and the ship is now being com leted.

Accordin to the cond tions of the contract the shipbullder engaged to deliver the vessel fully rigged, coppered, and cqui ped—with the exception of the guns—free at ronstadt in the course of this summer, and is moreover bound to lead her with the timber, ready cut and re- pered, necessary to build a second verse of

HASZAR.D'S GAZETTE, JULY 21

the same class and similar size, to be put to- gather in the Russian arsenals. _

The price stipulated for the 84-gun ship is 840,000 dollars—-being just at the rate of 10,000 dollars per gun, of which 100,000 dol- lars were id when the keel was laid down, and 3ﬁ),08i‘l dollars have been latcl paid in bills on London and Amsterdam. be other half of the purchase sum,as well as the amount of the timber for the second ship, is to be paid on delivery of the vessel at Cronstadt.

How the contractor re s to elude the vigilance of the British set now in the Baltic --and b the last accounts actually biockading Cronsta t-—is unknown.. However easily be me succeed in mystifying the British consul in merica, and making him believe her to be a common merchant ship, there is ever reason to hope and believe, tint the Britis naval oﬁicers in the Baltic will not be so easily de- ceived, and that Brother Jonathan will not be able to chuckle at having been “ too wide awake for the Britishers," as in the case of the Minis riﬂes and the revolvers landed this spring at Baltish Port from the American ship

mmy Ap letcn, as shown up by your corres- pondent at emel. At all events, this commu- nication may have the good eﬁeot of serving to put the British consuls abroad and the go- vernment at home on their guard, and induce them to keep a good look-out, so as not to permit this vessel to slip throu h their ﬁngers, and become in time a formidab e antagonist.

LAUNCH or AN AUSTRALIAN wan srnmrza. A ceremony which was erformed on the 30th ult., although happily o frequent occurrence upon the banks of the Thames, was in this in- stance invested with some peculiar features of interest. The shipbuilders of London, and their brethren in other parts of the kingdom, have frequently been engaged to construct vessels of war for foreign states, but the present is, we believe, the first instance of a colony ordering in this country a ship of war to be built at its own ex ease. The colony of Victoria, with a creditaile independence of feeling, having resolved to provide in some measure for its own defence from present or future foes, ordered, through Mr. Barnard, the agent for the rown Colonies, a war screw steamer, to be constructed in this country by Messrs. Young, Magnay, and Co., of Lime- house. The vessel, which is timber-built, designed by Mr. C. Lang, and put to other in the stron est manner, measures 80 tons burden, t I0 length between per endieulars bein 166 feet, and extreme brea th of beam 27 eet 9 inches. Her intended armament, which is to be supplied from her Majesty’s arsenals, is one ivot 32-pounder un, wei h- ing 56 cwt.. and two medium 3 broads de uns of 25 cwt.; but this armament can be oubled, if necessa . The vessel, which is constructed on_ very %e lines, will be rigged as a three-masted schooner, and her future cap- tain, Commander Lockyer, R. ., entertains the higlhest anticipations of her sailing uali- ties. he engines are to of 150- one ower, to be supplied from the factory of losers. Rennie.

Such is the vessel that may prove the foun- dation of a great nav in the southern seas, and which was launclie on the 30th from the dockyard of Messrs. Young, Curling, and Magnay, in the presence of an immense assem- blage of persons of all ranks, includin amon other distinguished ersons, Earl Tal ot Mr.

In ralia, M. P., hr. Cayley, M. P., Mr. Ba dock, M. P., Admiral Sir S. Pym, and others.

The ceremony of christening was cefully rforuied by Lady Constance Tal t, who estowed upon the ship the, in every way, ii - propriate name of “Victoria,” and the launch was immediately completed in a most success- ful manner.

About 300 of the invited guests then sat own to a drjjeuncr, almost worthy to be called a banquet, most suniptuously provided by Mr. Bathe, of the London Tavern, and some two hours were most agreeably spent in discussing the good things with which the tables were laden, listening to some a propriate speeches and excellent music, drin ing various toasts proclaimed by Mr. iliggs and enforced by sound of trumpet, and the visitors were ﬁnally con- veyed to town by steamers specially engaged for that purpose.

Greenwich Hos ital has just received the relics lately brought to ngland of Sir John Franklin and his companions. They are placed next to the coat in which Lord Nelson received his death wound at 'l‘ral'slgar.

DIVIIION or Pnizr: Moxrv wi-rir Francs.- The Moniteur says :—“.The Consul-General of France at London has just received from the Accountant-General of the Navy in England the sum of £1,517 7s. 2d. as the amount ofthe prize shares adjudged by the High Court of Admiralty, at London, loihe officers and crew of the ship Austerlitz, of the itnperial navy. This sum will be sent to the treasurer of the invalids of the navy, and will be distributed by him amongst the recipients, in comformity with the prize regula- lions.

THE FIRST STEP.

Runes,-—I believe there are men who have real desires for sslvation,h not what steps to take, or where to be a. Their consciences are awakened. Their facial- in are excited. Their understandings are on ightened. They would like to alter and be- come true Christians. But they do not know what should be their first step. |

Reader, if this be the state of your soul, let me oﬂer on some advice. I will show you where to gin. iwill tell you what step you‘

‘on ht to hike, and may take this very da . |

n every journey, there must be a first step. There must be a change from sitting still movin forward. The journeyings of Israel! from gypt to Canaan were long and weari-1 some. orty years passed away before they crossed Jordan. Yet there was one who moved first when they marched from Rameses to Sue-' coth. When does a man really take his ﬁrstl step in coming out from sin and the world!’ He does it in the day when he first prays with his heart.

In every building the first stone must be laid, and the rst blow must be struck. The ark. was 120 years in building. Yet.there was of day when Noah laid his axe to the first tree he’ cut down to form it. The Temple of Solomon’ was a glorious building. But there was a day when the ﬁrst huge stone was laid at the foot of Mount Moriah. When does the building of the Spirit really begin to appear in a man's heart? It begins, so far as we can judge, when he ﬁrs! pour: out his heart to God in prayer.

Reader, if you desire salvation, and want to know what to do, I advise you to go this very day to the Lord Jesus Christ, in the ﬁrst pri- vate place you can ﬁnd, and entreat Him in prpyer to save your soul.

ell Him that you have heard that lie re- ceives sinners, an has said, “ Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” Tell Him that you are a poor vile sinner, and that on come to Him on the faith of His own invitation. Tell Him you put yourself wholly and entirely in His hands,—that you feel vile and helpless, and hopeless in yourself,—and that except he saves you, you have no hope to be saved at all. Bescech llim to give you a new heart, and to

lant the Holy Spirit in your soul. Besecch

im to give you race and faith, and will and power to be His isciple and servant from this day for ever. Oh! reader, vo this very day, and tell these things to the 0rd Jesus Christ if you really are in earnest about your soul.

1‘ellIlim in your own words. If ii. doctor came to see you when sick, you could tell him where you felt pain. If your soul feels its disease indeed, you can surely ﬁnd something

tell Christ.

Doubt not His willingness to save you, be- cause you are a sinner. It is Christ's office to save sinners. He says Himself, " I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repent- ance.” (Luke v. 32.

Wait not because you feel unworthy. Wait for nothing. Wait for nobody. Waiting comes from the devil. Just as on are, go to

hrist. The worse you are, t e more need you have to a ply to Him. You will never mend yourself y staying away.

car not, because your prayer is stammering —your words feeble, and your language poor. esus can understand you. Just as a mother understands the first babblings of her infant, so does the blessed Saviour understand sinners. He can read a sigh, and see a meaning in a groan.

Despair not, because you do not get an answer immediately. While you are speaking, Jesus is listening. If He delays an answer, it is only for wise reasons, and to try if you are in earnest. Pray on, and the answer will surely come. Thou h it tarry, wait for it. It will surely come at est.

Oh! Reader, if you have an desire to be saved, remember the advice I ave given you this day. Act upon it honestly and heartily, and you shall’be saved. Do not say you know not how to pray. Pm er is the simplest act in religion. It is sinip yspcaking to God. It needs neither learning nor wisdom, nor book- knowlcdge to begin it. It needs nothing but heart and will. The weakest infant can or when he is hun The poorest be gar can hold out his hand for an aims, and oes not wait to ﬁnd ﬁne words. The most i norant man will ﬁnd something to say to Go , if he has only a min .

Do not say you have no convenient place to pray in.

Any man can ﬁnd a place private enough, if he is disposed. Our Lord prayed on a moun- tain ; Peter on the house-top; Isaac in the ﬁeld; Nathaniel under the ﬁg tree; Jonah in tho whale's belly. Any lace may become a closet, an oratory, and a ethel, and be to us the presence of God.

Do not say you have no time. There is plenty Of time. if men will only employ it. Time may be short but time is always len enough for prayer. Daniel had all the a airs of a king om on his hands, and yet he prayed three timesa dtpiy. David was ruler over a mighty nation.an yet he as s, “ Evening and morning

and at noon will pray.” (Psalms lv. 17.)

VHien tiime is really wanted, time can always

be foun . p.,.o,,. Reader salvation is very near you. Do not ug k.,ow,ose heaven for want of asking. Go this dayl ' ‘and take the ﬁrs! uep.—Rev. J. . RyIe.t

wnv no rnmn neon?

All the theories that again and again have been advanced in answer to this in- quiry, have lon since vanished before the true doctrine o the action of external cor- rosive agents. Thc great and all power- ful destroyer of the human teeth is sold, vegetable or mineral; and it matters not whether that acid is formed in the month by the decomposition of articles of food left between and around t e teeth, or whe- ther it is applied directly to the organs themselves, the result is the same, the enamel is dissolved, corroded, and the tooth destroyed. Much, very much of the decay in teeth may be attributed to th corrosive effects of acetic acid which is not only in common use as a condiment in the form of vine er, but it is generated by the decay and decomposition of any and every variety of vegetable matter. When we consider how very few ‘persons compa- ratively take especial pains to remove every particle of food from between and around the teeth immediately after eating, can we wonder that diseased teeth are so common, and that their early loss is so frequently deplored ?—E.rchonge. The above does not afford good reasons why the teeth of our people are so subject to early decay, in comparison with the teeth of the people of some other countries. It is generally allowed, that there is work for five times the number of dentists in the United States that there is in Britain; and that, while bad teeth is the exception there,‘ it is the rule here. We believe that our people take more pains with their teeth by washing than the natives of Ireland, and yet the Irish have far better teeth. Acetic acid cannot be the cause of this early de- cay of teeth among us; indeed, we know it is not. There is no subject of more impor- tance than this; for if the early decay of teeth among our people is not the result of ill health, we all know that bed teeth are injurioustohealth. The health of people is ti. queslioii of the very first importance; it is of more consequence than any other. It is our opinion, that if more coarse hard biscuit were eaten in early life, to exercise the teeth, they would be less liable to early decay. The very form of some of our teeth are adapted to grinding, and if not properly exercised, they must become tend- er and delicnte.—Scicnliﬁc American.

Misrav or S'rs'rns1usiv.—Probably few great philosophic statesmen—few men, that is, who have acted intimately in public af- fairs, as well as contemplated them from the closet, ever quilted the stage without a feel- ing of profound discouragement. Whether successful or unsuccessful, as the world would deem them, a sense of sadness and disappointment seems to prevail over every other sentiment. They have attained so few of their objects—they have fallen so far short of their ideal—have seen so much more than ordinary men ofthc dangers and difliculties of nations, and of the vices and meanness of public men. Not many En- glishmen governed so long or so successful- ly as Sir Robert Peel, or set in such heart- felt blessings and esteem; yet, shortly be- fore his dcath, he confessed that what he lied seen and heard in public life, had left upon his mind a permanent impression of gloom and grief. VVho ever succeeded so splendidly as VVasliington? “Who ever en- joyed to such a degree, and to the end, the confidence and gratitude of his country? “ Yet,” says Guizot, “toward the close of his life, in the sweet and digniﬁed retire- ment of Mount Vernon, something of lassi- lude and sadness hung about the mind of a man so serenely great—a feeling, indeed, most natural at the termination of a long life spent in men’s concerns.” Power is a very great burden, and mankind a hard taskmaster to him who struggles virtuously against their passions and errors. Success itself cannot wipe out the sorrowful impres- sions which originate in the conflict; and the weariness contracted on the scene of action is prolonged even in the bosom.

Within the last eight days 150 dogs have been destroyed" by the police in Glasgow.