The British ( - Owen, an immense steam-ship, intended to carrygoods and
passeimers between London and New York, was launched oil Thursday, Innis the dockyard of Messrs. Curling, Young, and Ca, the builders, at Limehouse. She belongs to the British and American Steam Nuvigation Compeny ; and is one of the largest ships in the wou Id, her leegth, it is said, exceeding that of any vessel in the British Navy by :33 feet. She has accommodation for 280 passengers. The following particulars of the dimensions huve been given by the builders—
Diameter of cylinders Length, extremo, from figure. 7 • X 7 feet lwad to mitir,...11
Lettgt It on upper deck 245 feet Itiameter of pisitille.wheels... 74 itch.
lmtsgt h oh k • .1 223 feet Estimated weight uf engines, ltreadi li within paddle buses 40 feet 6 in, boilers, mol water
Breadth paddle- Ditto of coals for `2.0 tin; s' 5001m
boxes. 64 feet consumption
ta; feet Ditto sire:Wee 11,1,1; 1 ttt'ut torts Draught of w.itre vs trim the 651.1C011:: Pus,m euginve 3!:0 horse a! ove es eight ;Ind stoles... 16 feet An immense crowd assembled to see the laueels ; but there Was not depth of water sufficient to allow of the ceremony being performed in the usiol way; so she was "floated out." The most extensive pre. parations Wt:ie made for the accommodation of' the public. A ter/ capacious booth was erected; large gullcries and platforms covered other portions ; and such vessels as were in dock had coverings thrown 0% er them, and temporary seats contrived, so that there was not a !pot from which a view could be obtained, which was not appropriated for that purpose. In the booth were the Earl of Munster, Lord Mel. bourne, Mr. E. J. Stanley, Mr. Bulwer, Mr. M. O'Connell, Mr. Poulett Thomson, and other distinguished individuals. Precisely at two, it being at that time high-water, the signal was given ; the stu- pendous vessel took leave of her moorings; and as she inalesocaliy ploughed her way into the river, amidst the rejoicings of the multitude, the Honourable Mrs. Dawson Ihtmer, who occupied a conspicuous position upon a platform erected for the purpose, was seen to hurl at her the baptismal offering, and christen her the "British Queen. when she reached di: water, belt g surroun led by vessals of the ordi.
nary size her huge _proportions became even more apparent than they ,
were before. Having floated a short distance up the river with the side, she was takFit in tow by the Fume steamer, and finally east anchor outside a tier about a quarter ot a mile below tue yard.
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