ARSENAL, From an early hour on Friday forenoon, it was evident that something unusual was about to happen; for between the Foreign Settlements of Shanghai and the Chinese Arsenal, and in all adjacent directions, natives could be seen hieing their way towards the Arsenal, some in chairs, some on ponies, and many on the "China-carriage." Toward 12 o'clock, the crowd
ship- 1@ dense, in it, was of, Chinese a th, aalghonrhond of the hardly Fassible to move comfortably along. Many Foreigners were also,, present, and 'a number of foreign. Indies," All cinsses of the native popislation seemed to be pretty well represented—from the Taotai down to the jolly beggar." The acone on the water waa Very gay, on account of the hundreds of sightseers' that came up the river in steam-launches, yachts, house-boats, men-of-war's boats, anid sampans—many showing a very pretty display of bunting; while the swarm of native boats was enormous.
Froman early hour inthe morning, everything had been in readiness for high water, ud when 1.45 p.m, approached, the signal othe workmen began haming shores," one by one, from under the big ship; when the last of them were taken out from under her, the trigger was drawn, and the ponderous mass, 2,000 tone weig clit, began. to move on the ways, very slowly at first, but with gradually increasing velocity, until she touched the water, when all doubts and fears of jecessful launch were ended. When the noble vessel got fairly afloat, she heeled a little to one side, exciting a subdued exclamation of but she almost immediately righted. At this moment, there ocourred a scene which even drow off attention from the ship. The disturbance of the water in her vicinity caused several of the native boats almost to upeat, filling and nearly swamping others; and seve immersions took; however, the unfortunate individuals were all rescued, with the exception of one man, who, it is reported, was drowned. So soon as the ship was clear of the ways, there was a general rush of native boats for loot—the loose spars, &., of the ship's "cradle, and little or no attention was paid to those struggling in water, most of whom were left to get ashore as they best could.
After the Munch, which, altogether, went off as successfully as we have see on any occasion at home, the foreign: ers concerned were congratulated by the Taotai and the other mandarins ay native officials, as also by their foreign friends present. About 3 o'clock, handsome tiffin was provided to all foreign. Hoo Ae Poon the governor of Arsondl, entertained the gentlemen cone taotai,, the governor ted with the construction of the vessel, also the officers of H.B.M.'s ship and several other foreign gentlemen. siena and construction of the Chines? Government's first specimen of large
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.