Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-02-17

York, as the Queer commanding the lthsu
district. The loss OF his valuable counsel IN con-
dueting work which he had ,natureIy considered.
and which he strongly recommended, was the cam
sequence 1t his removal 10 another section oi the u
him, where his professional talents were specially
required
The keels of the steam f.igate laid ont the
Goth day oil jane, 1914 The strictest blockade the
enemy could enforce interrupted the costing trade,
AID greatly enhanced the price oi timber. Tue VI
GLANCE with which he guarded our coast against IN
tcrcourse with foreign nations rendered diff
cult the importation OF copper and iron. The
same impeachment attended the supplies OF coal,
heretofore brought 10 Ncw-York from RichmOod
and Liverpool Lead, in like manner, was prOc-r-
&c, uudcr additional disadvantages. These attempts
or the enemy to Illustrate the design We're VAIN ami
in,potcnt. All the obstacles were surmouuted.
Scarcity of the necessary woods aud metals was o.
by strenuous excrtions aud al the block
aiding squadron could achieve no, n disappOint-
meat in the undertaking, but merely an Increase o;
the eHpeuse
So, II. respect to trs.e,rnen and abaurer-, there
WAS an extraordinary difficulty. ShipwsisAts had
rrla ell TO the Lakes for repelIing the enemy, IN
such numbers, that, comparatively speaking. lew
were lett the seabcard. large portion oil the
men who had heen engaged III daily work had en-
listed as soldiers ard had marched under the baF-
OF the nation the defence OF its rights--yet,
amidst the secretly al hands, sufficient number
were procured or t.i1pupnse which the Commits
siOners had IN charge. An incieSse al wages was
the che. impedimsnt. ahd this they were enabled
practically TO Nv ercnme.
BY the exemplary combination OF diligence and
skill, the part Oh Tie engineer, and the construct
ors the business s., accelerated, that the vessel
WIS launched on the 2g day of October amidst the
pia,idrs of an unusual number OF citizens
Measures wer,. Immediately taken to complete
her equipment the boiler, the engine and the
machinery wsre put on board With all possible ex-
pednn. Their weight ard size far surpassed any
thing that had heen witnessed bef.re among us.
The stores of artillery in New-Nork, not Furnish
ing the number and Kind Of cannon which she
destined to carry, it became necessary to transport
guns from pliIadelphis. 4 prize, taken from the
enemy, put some .iC and excellent pieces at the
disposition OF the navy department. To avoid the
danger OF capture lay the enemN's craiz Is, these
werl carted over the iniry roads OF New Jersey.
raeRtY heavy eannon thus conveyed bv the
strength of horses Carriages nfths most approved
model were constructed, and every thing Gnne 20
bring her into prompt action, as an efficient lnstru
ment of war.
Absut this time, an officer, prc-eminent for bra
very and discipline, commissioned by the go
vernmeDt to her command Prior to this event, it
had been intended by the commissioners to finish
her coniormably to the pan originally submitted TO
the executive. She was structure resting upon
two boats and keels separated from end to end by
canal = feet wid~, ard lj6 long. One boat con-
| tanned the chaGrors OF copper TO prepare her
steam. The cylinder Of iren, With its pistont
lever ard wheels, occupied part OF lis fellow the
great water-wheel revoived in the space between
item the main crgun deck supported her arrna-
ment, and protected by bulwork j feet 10 inch
es thick, OF solid timber. This was pierced 10y 80
for holes, tn enable So poundcIs to fire red
hot balls her upper "r spar deck was PLAN, and
she was TO be propelled by her enginery alone.
1t wsst the opinion of col tain Porter and fr Full
| ton, that the upper deck OUGHT 10 be surrounded
with buiwark aud staqchions-that two stout
mast should be erected ia support latcen sai,-that
! there should &c bowsprits for jbs, and tat she
should ne rugged in corresponding style Under
authorities great. and With the expectation oi be-
| ing able to raise the blockade OF New.London, by
destroying, taking rowtng tI'e enemy's ships all
| these additions adopted and incorporated with
! the vessel.
It must here be observed, tbatdu,ing the cxbaus-
ton OF the treasury, and the temporary depression
Of the public credit, the commissioners were ex-
| ceedinsly embarrassed payments made
! in Treasury notes, which they were positively IT,
structed to negotiate at par On several occasions,
even these So long withheld, that the persons
| who had advanced materials and labour, were i'm
| Fortunate for payment, silently disconnected. To
certain extent the commissioners pledged their pri-
| vate credit. Notwithstanding all this the men, at
| one time, actually broke of. The work was re-
| tayed, aud Ter completion unavodsbly deferred,
| to the create ap2on Q Of he commissioners
I'll "inter rendered it impossible for her TO act.
Under all this pressure they, nevertheless persc-
vered 10 the important object conhded to them. But
their eXertions were further retarded by the pre-
mature aud unex peeted death Of the engineer. The
world was deprived OF his invaluable labOurs before
| he lad completed ;his fayoriic uniertak ins.-Wc
win not inquire, wherefore in the d9pensati3ns Of
Divine Providence, he not permitted to realize
| his grand conception. HIS Discoveries ho7pcusr,
sHTUige tar tie benefit ofmalki,ld, and viii extend
| to unborn generations.
At length all matters ready for trial Of the
machinery to urge such bulky vessel through the
water. This essay was made ON the first day OF
June, 1915. She proved herself capable of oppos-
! ing the wind, and ofstemnng the tide, OF crossing
currents, and OF beng steered among vessels riding
at anchor, though the weather was bosterous and
| the water rough. Her performance demonstrated
| that the project successiul-no doubt remained
that foating battery, composed OF heavy artillery
! could be moved by steam. The commissioners
turned from the exercise Of the day, satisfied that
| the vessel would answer tue intended purpose, aud
cOnsOled themselves that their care had been bes-
| lowed upon q worthy object.
but It was discovered that various alterations
! we're necessary. GudeG by the lgst Of experience
| they caused some to be corrected ard some
| defects TO be- supplied. She was prepared Tor a Sc
| cOnd voyage with all practiea5le speed
! Outhe 4th day Of July she was ag-in pat IN ac-
| ton She performed trip 10 the ocean, cast
ward Of Sandy HoDk and buck again, distance of
| SIS miles, in eight hours and twenty minutes. 4
part Ofa time she had tie tide against her, and had
/ no assistance whatever from sails. Of the gentle
| men who formed the company invited to witness
the experiment, not one enteItancd doubt OF her
! fitness for the intended purpose.
Additional expedienis were, notwithstanding, ne
cessary 70 be sought for qnickenrg and directing
her motion. These were devised and executed
with all possible care.
Suitable arrangements having been made a 81
trial of her powers WIS attempted on the lili OF
! September, with the weishtof % Of her long and