English: The Peninsular and Oriental Navigation Company's New Steam-Ship "Pera". Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 5 January 1856.

Read the ILN 'TRIAL OF THE SCREW STEAM.SHIP "PERA." This fine screw steam-ship, which was built for the Peninsular and Oriental Company by Messrs. Mare, of Blackwall, from designs by Mr. James Ash, made an official trial of her speed over the measured mile in Stokes Bay on Saturday last. The Pera is now the largest vessel belonging to the Peninsular and Oriental Company, their leviathan steamer Himalaya having been purchased by Government for the transport service. Although of considerably less tonnage, the Pera, for accommodation and space, is almost in every respect equal to the Himalaya; and her fine lines, when compared with her breadth of beam, have caused her, for power in comparison with tonnage, to be under steam one of the fastest screw-vessels afloat. The dimensions are :-Length for tonnage, 303 ft. 7 in.: ditto over all, 334 ft.; breadth. 42 feet 3 In.; depth of hold, 27 feet 2 in.; height between decks in the clear, 7 ft.; full tonnage, 2.,630. The engines, by Rennie and Co., are of 450-horse power, and are constructed upon the vertical trunk principle, with Lamb and Summer's patent flue boilers. The shaft has a multiplying wheel of two to one. The engines during the trial averaged 83 revolutions, or 66 entire turns of the screw, per minute. The wind was blowing strong from the south-south-west, and after the topgallant yards had been lowered the average of four runs showed a speed of 121 knots, or equal to 141 geographical miles per hour. The result proved highly satisfactory to every one present, the impression being that an average of not more than twelve knots would be obtained.

There were on board Messrs. Anderson and Allen, Managing Directors; Admiral Thornton; Messrs. De Salis and Hadow, Directors; Captain Engledue, Superintendent of the Company at Southampton; Mr. Lamb, Superintendent Engineer; Messrs. Hughes and Luke, Government Surveyors ; Messrs. Rennie, Summers, &c In consequence of a domestic calamity in the family of Captain Soy, the appointed Commander, the charge of the vessel was intrusted to Captain Weeks, of the steam-ship Tagus. The internal fittings of the Peru combine every improvement which modern science has produced. Among the most recent may be mentioned the saloon dining-tables, which, although apparently solid single tables, may by an Ingenious contrivance be divided, so that a double row may be instantly provided, thereby giving accommodation for a double number of persons. By this means (an invention of Mr. Taylor, of the Borough) 140 can comfortably dine. Upon deck are two powerful steam winches, which are used in the shipment and discharge of cargo, &c., and by which an immense amount of manual labour is saved. Upon the captain's bridge is placed a " helmsman's telegraph," entirely obviating the necessity of communicating vied voce, and which in working ships of great length is found to be an invaluable facility. The Peru is also fitted with Cunningham's patent reefing topsails, the advantages of which are now fully established, upwards of 700 vessels having them in use. Previously to her leaving London this vessel was pronounced to be the most perfect steam-ship which had ever left the Thames, and confers great credit upon Mr. Robinson, under whose superintendence she has been fitted, and to whom has been intrusted the fitting of all recent vessels belonging to the company. As the power of the Peru is small when compared with the tonnage, the result of the first voyage is looked forward to with interest, and should it prove favourable, of which most sanguine hopes are entertained, the new principle of less power and fine lines will be satisfactorily elucidated. It was the Intention of the company to dispatch this vessel with the heavy portion of the India, China, and Mediterranean malls yesterday (Friday).