Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-10
PRINTED kHp PUBLISHED,
DAILY,
S,om a late English Paper.
THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
We estimate oil the 4

very able comparative estimate OF the A
merican naval power, and OF that oil the Eng
Tsh settlements in Canada, Is given IN Inc
0Hon. Lieutenant de Roos' Personal Narrative
-rbA au,hor has furnished minute accounts 'oi
the Dock wards i'm Washington, Baltimore,
palaJeInhia. New York, and Boston, In the y
States. and those Of Halifax, Montreal King
sion. and other towns in our own North Amer
lean Colonies, whose mara,ime resources, MT
de Roos says, would prove very powerful com
pe,itors with the United States, even wlhoa'
the aid OF the Mother Country.
NAVY OFTHE UNITED STATES.
The Personnel Narrative Of Mr.. de RoOs CON
tains an account ofthe present state oil the "a
merican naval strengths SUBJECT oil The high'
est interest, and one upon which the author, as
professional man, speaks with consideraoie
means and preparation for Judgment.
Mr.. De Roos's first introduction 10 Inc "A
merican dock-yards took place at Washington;
and, both here aud al Baltimore ana fhiiaaei-
mia. comparing that which he saw with that
which he heard, he was agood deal disappoint'
ed Al Washing ton, he found only two ships
buiId;ng. they were large fiigates, and ski!iul.
8 ~ constructed, but s;Ill there were only two
a continuance resortel 10 lin the case oil THIRD
fripate) for The purpose Of repair, did no. ap'
near 10 have been judiciohsly hit upon: the au-
thor suspected that il would turn out com
plete failure.
~The Potomac, another heavy and clumsy.
looking 90 gun frigate, was hauled upon ways
in cradle called commodore Porter's inclined
nlane-an rxpedient intended to- save the eX
ne,se and Inconvenience of dry docks, for eX'
amiuine the bottoms Of vessels where there is
little tide. She was partly suspended by ca
bles and partly by shores; the hauling up had
been easily accomplished, but the ground hay
ing afterwards given way i"nder her stern
the inclir alton Of the plane had been altered
and very much doubt whether she will be
ever got down again. Thsin the United
ss.ateszszl,ersss rigid economy 3 'he order vi
the day, Is likely TO make the inclined plane
very unpopular
AT Baltimore, however, something is found
attractive. The traveller, though pressed foI
time, az all hazards must visit the port, and Is
delighted with the beauty Of a schooner,
which is building for the purpose OF smuggling
on the coast Of China.
"Every thing was sacrificed 10 swif,ness, and
.hink she was the most lovely vessel ever
saw. We visited several yards; and met with
builder who had book OF draughls Of all the
fastest-ssiliug schooners built in Baltimore,
which had so much puzzled our cruisers during
the war. II was the very thing wanted; bu =.
after an hour spent in en;reaty, could not in
duce him 10 part with one leaf OF the precious
volume. Though provoked at his refusal, |
could not help admiriug the public spirit which
dictated his conduct: for the offer / made him
Mus. have been tempting 10 person in his sta
ton Of life
AT philadelphia, we have an account of THE
Pennsylvania, three. decker, (which is said
by the Americans TO be the largest ship in the
world.'' Mr.. De Rcos however, says tina, ne
believes " her scantlipg 10 be very nearly the
same as he English ship Nelson" He adds q" !
was struck by the circumstances OF her having
trough OF rock salt running fore and aft her
kelson, and learned that this application was
supposed TO possess chemical property in
preserving the wood from decay" In this
yard, which is ONT of the most celeb in
America there was but little stir, and no small
vessels building.
The Americans indeed appear to care very
little about the repair of their ships in general,
as far as we may Judge from the dock-yard at
New York
81 mex, went on board the Franklin, of IS
guns, the deck of which they were employed
in tarring; and although an immense ship, she
looked quite small after seeing the Ohio There
was another line of battle ship laid UP in ordi-
nary, with poop (the HaSh'ngionl Neither
of these ships were housed over. There were
no small vessels building"
AT this place the traveller also saw the ia
nous unfinished "steam. frigate:" he thinks
that if she had been completed, she would sill
have been failure.
"Here saw The Fulton steam-frigate. She
was rugged, and her sails bent for the exercise
of raw recruits for the navy. Shc.is construct
ed on the plan of ship cut in halves longitu.
dinally. The two sections are united by the
beams of the decks, and the engine which pro.
pels her is placed in the centre.
Her bow is planked round and has cut-wa-
ter affixed to it. She is fitted to go either for
wards or backwards, and for this purpose has
four rudders, two at each extremity. Her sides
are five feet thick. aud built of live oak She
is considered as failure; The protector, Fulton,
having died before the engine was completed.
She is not painted, and has altogether a most
awkward and unnatural appearance. The ma
chinery was not on board when saw her. ]
am authorized by general opinion in thinking