The Express.
London, England, 1856-10-07 00:00:00

THE AMERICAN FRIGATE MERRIMAC.

The local variation of compasses on board ships is
matter of the most serious consequence, and of the
greatest interest. It has been already stated in the Ex-
prim that Inch variation is p ted on board the United
States screw steam frigate Merrimac, now lying in South-
ampton Watt'', by three magnets. Each of thee. magnets
is about 2 feet long, • little more than one inch la width,
sad about throe quarters of an inch in thickens. One of
the magnets is placed immediately under the compass oa the
upper deck, its direction being fore and aft. Another Is
placed under that one in the same direction, and fa fastened
to the ceiling of the matn deck. The t►ird is fastened to
the same ceiling, about 4 feet distant oa the larboard
vide, and its direction is athwart the ship, so that
it is at right angle, with the other two magnets. The
invention of this contrivance for counteracting local eerie
don is doe t. Captain Morris, the commander of an Ameri-
can coasting steamer, and is much in use in United States
merchant ship, ; but the Merrimac is the first man-of-war
in which it has been tried.

The Americans have done away with the old-fashioned
cutlass for onion, and the substitute for it is a straight,
short Roman sword, adapted to cot and thrust, arid is an
exceedingly handy and formidable weapon in boarding,
where fighting men are crowded together. Both the Mini@
rifle and Brown Bess are on board the Merriman, and the
men are armed alto with pistols, and the officer' with re-
volvers; 130-pound and wher heavy shot can be thrown
from the enormous guns of the Merrimac, with good aim,
upwards of two miles, and would do terrible execution that
distance. The lug on which the gun-lock works on Dahl-
gren's guns is cast with the gun, and there is a spare
leg which could be easily made available, should
soy damage be done to the one in use. Every one
of the guns on board the frigate has the elevating screw.
The gun carriages are the French pattern : they have only
wheels forward, and the binder part rota on the deck, aid
acts like a bran to prevent too great a recoil in firing. The
lender part of the carriage, is assisted forward again by
roller handspikes. The shells used on board the frigate
have an improved fuse, which cause them to bunt with
great accuracy. The head of the mop for sponging out the
guns is made with bristlee, which is a great improvement en
the old sheepskin sponge. Floggiog has been done away
with is the American navy for four or five yeses
past. The punishments resorted to on board the frigate
are military confinement, reduction to the neat inferior
rate, deprivation of liberty on shore, eatra police duties, and
loss of pay. The frigate's Grew have fresh meat and bread
now they are in harbour, each man being allowed one pound
of meat a day. They have beef four time" aid pork them
times a week. There is divisional enrolee of guns on
board on Tuesdays, Wedneedays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
On Mondays general exercise of guns takes plasm, aid on
Saturdays there is exercise at fire qunten, when every
movement is gone through, es if a fire ware on board.
The arrangements in cue of firo are very complete.
The force pampa and fire hose are kept In the moot
perfect readiness. The windlarms and captain do not
appear to have the improvements that are to be seen on
toad British men-of-war. Dinner tables for seamen have
not been introduced into the Americas Davy, and the men
still sit on the decks to at their meals. The seamen of the
Merrimac have a small library; they are also getting up
theatrical anossemettr, Red formic@ among themselves a
choir of Ethiopiaa lingers. The same order, quietness, and
cleanliness are to be °nerved on board of her as are noticed
in English line-of-battle shim. Admiral the Earl of Hard-
wick@ and other naval officers have visited On Americas
frigate, and have ezamined her with the utmost minute-
ness and interest. The following is her list of officers :—A
captain, seven lleutenante, sine masher, one surgeon, ose past
moistest surgeon, one assistant surgeon, one purser, a captain
and tient e of marines, four past midshipmen, and four
midshipmen. There is no chaplain 03 board. The captain is
bound by law to have Divine Invite at imitable times and
places,but he is not limited to any pertinent form of worship.
Oa board the Merrimac, however,as on board most American
ships of war, the Church cf Boglaud envies fa read. The
cams of the Merrimac have been elected honorary members
of the Soathempton Club during the stay of the frigate at
the port of Southampton. All persons are allowed to visit
the frigate, ea it is oostrary to American republican notion,
to admit by tickets or to make any distisetion between per-
sons. It is expected that a email steamer will ran to the
Merrimac from Southampton for the convenience of vintora,
should there be any continuance of fine weather.

THE GREAT BELL OF WILBTMINIITER.—WEST
' HARTLEPOOL, SOND&T, OCT. s.—The schooner Wave,
Moncrief master, of Wisbeach, which was chartered for the
unman°. of the great bell for the Westminster clock to
Loudon, was taken out of Mr. Pile's graving dock on
Tuesday last. Having taken on board the remaining por•
Non of her eargo—eanietieg of pig iron and coke—the
Wave sailed this isthmian for her destination, where she
may be sepeetad in the course of the ensuing week.
LORD BROUGHAM IN THE NORTH. Lord
Brougham has for I weeks past been • joarning at his
seat in Westmoreland. He has recently completed has 78th
year, and on his birth-day visited Mr. Jeeob Thompson, at
his atodio at the Hermitage, Heekthorpe, accompanied by
Captain Inglegeld, R.N and the Rev. W. Elwin. His
'mishit was induced to sit for a photograph, from which
admire le and p untie. imprtesions have been taken. His
lordship is In eticollont health. He frequently takes* stroll in
the vicinity of his seat, end converses freely with the "gray
coats" of Westmoreland, many of whom were his steady
supporters, during his celebrated struggles for the °moon.
nation of the county from the thralcithen of the house of
Lowther.
Ma. ARCHIBALD HASTIE, M.P.—Mr. Archibald
Matte, M.P., addressed nie constituents in Paisley on
Friday last. In the course of his remark', he referred to
the eseanne of importance which had been introdueed
daring the put session, and more especially to the view he
had taken of each. At the close a vote of confidence in him
was pseud.
MILITARY EXPENDITURE.—Tba Essex Gazette
states that 'overeaten' has given 10,8001. for Middlechurch
Form, sear Colchester, for the porous of Converting it
into a military pared ground.
PEEL PARR, BRADFORD.—Mr. Titus Salt and
Messrs. Milligan, Porto., and CO, have paid to the commit-
' tee their promised subscriptions of 1,0001 each, and Mr.
Alderman Rand his subscription of 2501., in completion of
the 10.0001. fond. This provides for the porches. money of
the park ; but the public spirit and liberalii of the town
will be drawn upon to the amount of upwards of 2,0001., for
the erection of proper easiest= walls and ornamental lodge
satranees.—Lewis Mercury.
Mr. Albert Smith has been visiting Chanionni,
where he appears to have bees received with great re-
Jokier. Yesterday," says the Goodie de Serene, "the
whole valley was alive to welcome Mr. Albert Smith ; the
local authorities sad the greater portion of the population
received esihnsiastically the artist and author who has
popularised with the English tacunions amongst cur
mountains, and the generou man who stretched out a help
log hand to the victims of the conflagration of July, 1856
Up to a late hear at night the merry gonad of music end
the Erie( of merlon is frost of the hotel where Mr. Albert
Smith was stopping bore witness to the general delight at his
pumice."