Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-10-24
THE LAUNCH


We have The pleasure OF having before
our readers from The NoRFoLk Herald
once, neat and correct account of the
lannch of the n at Norfolk on Saturday
las,.-Were we 10 trust ourselves with a
minute description OF The events, and par
iIcuiarlyoi Tie feelings which attended this
spectacle, we might run The risk OF beinp
called fantastic, aud after all, nigh, fail i'm
dong any hing like Justice TO this deem
~ Impressive cSliihIiion.-'Fhai sweet 20.
et ami excellent observer, Campbell. has
not deemed tins subject unworthy of his
notlcc.-ln his lectures on Euglsh poetry
lie says, Those who have ever Witnessed
The spectacle ct the launching of a shin
OF the line, will perhaps forgive me for
adding this 10 The examples OF the sublime
objects IF artificial life. OF that spectacle
| can never forget the Impression, au,sof
having Witnessed il reflected from The
faces o! ten thousand spectators. They
seem yet before me. | sympathize viii
Their deep and silent expectations. ami
their final burst OF enthusiasm. II was MOI
a vulgar JOY, but an affecting national 81.
lemniiy. When the vast buiwark sprang
from her cradle, the calm wafer or WHICH
she swung maIestically round, gave The
Imagination contrast OF the stormy ele-
meni on which she was soon 10 ride. All
the days OF battle and tic nights of dan
ger which she had 10 encounter. all the
ends OF The earth which she had 10 visit.
and all that she had 10 do and TO sufTpr
Tor iier country, rose IN awful presenti-
ment before the MUD and when the
flrart gave her benediction, il was like
one pronounced on "A living being" Blu,
these associations so beautifully describ
cd by Campbell, are ine results o! the re-
fiec'Ion which comes bef-re or after the
scene Itself, though they wonderfully com
blne to heIgiten lis effect but a, the mo.
meni Itself, there is 10 room for them.
ne scene before Won, of itself more than
! nils yonr mind. You Cannot take i'm one
Hall OF HE sensations that crowd IN up-
on YOU. The spectacle is indeed impos-
| ing beyond any description. The very
ilrS' crack of her tiinbers, before she be-
! gins 10 START from her cradle, thrills thro'
| every VEN. Aud when the enormous mass
begins to glide maiesiically along, The
variety OF changes she presents TO YOU.
and each OF them s,rkingIy Impressive,
| me awful force with which she dips from
her ways INTO the waller, and drinks it up
.hfough her stern ports until immediate.
| ~ waier-borne she floats up, and then
! hurries along her whole towering buIwarks,
! al nrst walking upon The waters" ii,rn
gliding with reSisIless force along, snap
! ping her Two thirteen inch cables with
me same ease az child would break the
brittle flax, leaving her wedges behind
heT, as " she we're iumbllng into pieces,
and scattering before her The spray of the
wafer, ag'lailng Tie whole surface into
waves az IT they were moved I'M bv an
q
10 caidisiaDce aud tossing every ,hiug
around 'hem,evea Inc largest ftigate all
these give one all idea of power confirm.
any Varied IN lis appearance, which fills
The mind tor The moment. aud prpvPn,s
Is wandering TO any other subject o( re.
Hcctlon. But the moment the first shock
OF these is over, The ideas which Camn.
pen pants pour in upon YOU; Won then
remember il is your country's vessel and
you remember your country YOU see
'he same impressions murmmrisS from a
hundred lips, and reflected from tie face,
OF thousands Of speclaiors-Tnen comes
he final burst NJ eut sam
The scene Of tLe launching oC The ne.
tdWare had every advaniagc. This fins
vessel met with TO accident 10 impedr Inc,
motion. Men cOnvcrsant witlI such scenes
pronounce Il The finest launch illey
have ever witnessed. fier force was So
ovcrpowerlng az 10 snap The Two thirteen
inch cables that we're intended to break
her way, and to draw under the water a nd
knock together The numerous barrels ON
which another very large cable was bnoy-
ed up in tie water about 200 yards from
her cradle, TO prevent her runnipg high
up on the opposite point OF shore. Then,
lie whole river lined with steam boats,
vessels, aud row boats, the various points
9 shore tbronged With people, the ladies'
dressed ~ their most striking colours he