The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-20 00:00:00

TEE NEW STEAM BATTERY.

The great iron war steamer, which is now in construc-
tion at Hoboken for the Government, being an object of
much interest, we have been at considerable pains to
collect reliable information in regard to her, principally
through the medium of our Washington correspondents ;
and, as it differs very materially train the stateme,,ts
recently made in various quarters, we give it to our
readers. In 1842 the late Mr. Robert L. Stevens first
broached to the Government the subject of harbour
defence by means of steam batteries of iron, which
should be shot and shell proof, and in 1843 Congress, by
a special act, directed that the Navy Department should
contract with him for such a vessel. In 1844 a contract
was accordingly made with him by Mr. Mason, then
Secretary of the Navy, under which Mr. Stevens com-
mencedn to building.
construct
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wra. r Stevens
bsteamer
collecting materials and constructing the dry
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ethvieslecontract l ist nowe
suitable for use in the waters of New York, from Sandy
Hook upward. It was stipulated that she should be
built of iron, that she should be shot and shell proof
against ordnance then in use on ships of war, that she
should have four engines, and be propelled by a sub-
' merged propeller which should give great speed. Her
dimensions were to be not less than 250 feet in length
and 40 feet beam, and her cost complete, including an
armament of not less than 0 heavy guns, was not to ex-
ceed $537,000. For the faithful fulfiitnentof this contract
the Government required and received from Mr. Stevens
ample se3urity, as it was further stipulated that payments
' should be made to him as he proceeded with the c ,n-
-struction up t 05500,000, and that the remaining $87,000
should be paid when the ship was completed and received.
Mr. Stevens encountered many difficulties in making
his preliminary arrangements, and it was not until July,
1654, that the actual construction was commenced.
Meantime he had decided, alter more fully studying the
subject, to increase the dimensions of the vessel very
much. Instead of a length of 250 feet she is nearly 420
feet long, and her other dimensions are increased in pro.
portion. Instead of 4 engines and 1 propeller, she has 8
engines and 2 propellers. Her boilers are 10 in number,
of large dimensions, and her power will be nearly equal
to 9,000 horses. The vessel is in a very advanced
state, and the machinery and boi'ere, and dependencies,
are all complete and in place. Owing to her greatly
increased dimensions beyond those stipulated for in the
contract the cost will be much increased, but how much
we are not able to state. The payments by the Go-
vernment caunot exceed 500,000 dollars until the vessel
is delivered and received, unless Congress should make
further appropriations. Since the construction was
commenced the original projector, Mr. Robert L. Ste-
vens, has died, but it is stated that his brother, Mr. E,
A. Stevens, is determined to complete the vessel ; that
a good force is now at work, under the same general
supervision which has been employed from the com-
mencement. Mr. Stevens is prosecuting the work
from his own resources, we are told, in the fullest con.
fidence that the ship will in all respects meet public
expectation, arid that Congress will not suffer him to
sistain any loss.—American paper.