In looking at old pictures and prints of these American built ships, several points in their construction seem to have been common to all, such as the semi-elliptical stern, the bowsprit built into the sheer, the large wheel-house aft, etc.; their figure-heads, also, were generally most elaborate full-length figures and did not grow out of the bow in the graceful way of the British-built, but seemed to be plastered upon it. And from _Marco Polo_ to _Donald Mackay_, these soft-wood clippers had more the appearance of strength and power than of grace and beauty, though the famous _Red Jacket_ was an exception, being an extremely taking ship to the eye. _Blue Jacket_, however, was of the powerful type, and extremely like the Mackay ships in appearance. She was designed to stow a large cargo, having a full midship section, but her bow was long and sharp enough. Her chief measurements were:— Length of keel 205 feet. Length between perpendiculars 220 „ Length over all 235 „ Beam 41.6 „ Depth of hold 24 „ Registered tonnage 1790 tons. Her poop was 80 feet long and 7 feet high, and she had 8 feet of height between decks. She had the usual accommodation arrangements, two points only being perhaps worth noting; the first was a line of plate glass portholes running the length of her ’tween decks, and the second was an iron water tank to hold 7000 gallons. _Blue Jacket_ sailed for Melbourne on 6th March, 1855, in charge of Captain Underwood, and made a magnificent run out of 69 days. She further distinguished herself at a later date by making the homeward run in 69 days. _Shalimar_, the smallest ship of the three, measured 1557 tons register; 195.8 feet length; 35.2 feet beam; and 23 feet depth. She sailed for Hobson’s Bay on 23rd November, 1854, was off Cape Northumberland in 67 days, but owing to head winds took another 10 days to reach her port. She came home in 75 days, her whole voyage, including 45 days in port, only occupying 6 months and 14 days. The newspaper report of her passage out states that she ran 420 miles in the 24 hours on one occasion, though unfortunately it gives no particulars. The most celebrated of these three ships was the _White Star_, which had the distinction of being the largest clipper built by Wright, of New Brunswick, her measurements being:— Registered tonnage 2339 tons. Length over all 288 feet. Length of keel 213.3 „ Beam 44 „ Depth 28.1 „