The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-31 00:00:00

Ironclads on the Mersey.

Though it is well known that several ironclads are in
course of construction in various parts of the kingdom for
foreign Governments, and though one has already sailed for
Russia and another for Denmark without occasioning sur-
prise, the public suspect that any vessel of war built on the
Mersey must be intended for the Confederate Government.
For a considerable time past mysterious assertions have been
circulated respecting two ironclads building in Messrs.
Laird's yard, and Federal spies have never lost sight of
them. A few days ago it was currently reported and be-
lieved that one of these vessels had slipped away to sea clan-
destinely to join company with the Florida off the Irish
coast. That such was not the case a visit to Messrs. Laird's
yard made evident. There at present lie the two suspected
vessels side by side, with the French flag floating over the
one nearest completion. Messrs. Laird make no mystery
about El Tousson and El Mounassir, as the ships are named.
They are undoubtedly built on French account, and it is
understood that the French Vice-Consul has given the Col-
lector of Customs satisfactory explanations respecting them.
El Tousson, which was launched some time ago, will be
ready for a trial :rip in a month or six weeks. El Mounassir
was only launched on Saturday, but already a portion of her
machinery is on board. Perhaps there are not two more
formidable frigates afloat. They are 230 ft. over all, 42ft.
beam, with 19tt. Gin. depth of hold. Tonnage, 1,830 0.m.;
horse power 350. They will combine speed with good sea-
going qualities. They are very fiat-bottomed, with exceed-
ingly fine ends, and will sit low in the water. Their
draught when loaded will be about 15ft ; estimated speed,
11 knots. The stem is so formed that the vessel may be used
as a ram, and the stern which overhangs affords protection
to the screw and rudder limn shot or collisions. The rig
is that of a barque, the masts, which are telescopic, and the
lower yards, being of iron. The armour-plating On
the sides of the vessel is 41 inches thick amidships,
and rather less at the ends. The plates, the join-
ing of which together is imperceptible, are fitted
into a teak backing of great strength, The deck is of Sin.
teak, protected with iron. The bulwark let dui= in case
of action iu order to allow the turret guns to fire over them.
They have two cylinderical turrets on captain Coles' prin-
ciple—one before and the other abaft the engine-room,
heavilY plated. These turrets are made for two o guns each.
The pilothouse is formed of teak aud iron. At either end of
the vessel are raised decks, which afford excellent accommo-
dation for the officers and crew. In the captain's cabin
provision is made for two heavy stern guns, and heavy guns
can be trained from the forecastle deck. These vessels have
capacity for 300 tons of coal. :All the machinery is below
the water line. Several experienced naval officers who have
inspected the vessels have expressed opinions most gratify-
ing to their designers.
In the adjoining dock is her Majesty's steam frigate Agin-
court, of 6,720 tons. This vessel is being constructed in a
dock which was adapted specially for the purpose, and is now
one of the finest in the kingdom. It is about 400 ft. long,
with an entrance of 75ft. wide, and a depth of water on the
blocks of 24ft. at average spring tide, or 26ft. at a high
gyring tide. Rapid progress has been made during the
summer months—about three-fourths of the iron-work of
the hull is now fitted in place, and a large proportion of this
completely riveted and finished off, co that the carpenters
have commenced with the woodwork, some six or seven
streakes of the teak backing for the amour plating are fixed
on amidship, and various checks, waterways, planking, 4Sze,
are being prepared for the different decks. Tho forginge
fur the stem and stern frames have, as usual in these very
large ships, required a longer time to make than was ex-
pected, but the lower part of the stem has now been in its
place for some mouths, and the stern post, weighing some
35 tons, was finally erected last month. The remaining
parts of the stern and the rudder-post will be complete in a
few weeks, and then the extreme bow and stern of the
vessel will be rapidly clused.in. Large quantities of the
51-inch armour plates have been received, and as all the
machinery for preparing and fitting them has been com-
plete and at work for tome time, it is expected that rapid
progress will be made with fixing them to the sides of the
frigate. The winter weather will not have the effect of in-
terfering with the progress of the work to the extent usually
to be feared in this climate, as the whole ship and dock
is covered over with a shed, under which are placed the
travelling cranes and other appliances for carrying on the
work. •