Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-01-08
From me Ne,o York .Aflas.
STATE OF THE COMBINED FLEET.
A POLITICAL JEU p'EsPRrT

A POLITICAL JEU D ESPRIT.
Great uproar and confusion have OF late been
perceptible among the several divisions OF this
squadron. There can he little doubt that the
ferment has been produced by the hosting ot the
three-striped standard and cock at the Vile de
Paris" main; for though every other leading ship
in the armament manned her yards on the Occa-.
sion, it could not escape observation, that it was
signal to them to clear the decks for action and
hoist their headlights, 1t would appear also,
that she nearly ran down some of the lighter fry,
in coming to her moorngs. Under all circum-
stances, it is fitting that we should acqualnt our
readers with its actual order and aud condition.
The first vessel enumerated in the latest survey
we have seen is
The Br,imu.ia-threc decker; on board of
which the Lord High Admiral-good luck to
him has lately hoisted his standard. She Is
an old vessel, somewhat shaken BY series of
desperate actions and merciess tempests; but
she is remarkably sound in her tlmbers, taught,
answers well to the helm, and underwent tho
rough repair in the spring of 1929. when she was
locked under the charge Of Commissioner As
sage, who re-coppered her with a new "tolera-
ton sheeting;" she is now considered better
sea-boat than at any former period during the last
half century. According to our last advlces,
silly attempt is making to compel her Commo-
dore to strike the Union Flag" under which
she has never been led into action without rem
dering good account of her antagonist; but his
lions are not disposed to let him unstrins his
'.harp," or ship it on board OF the roman galley,
though the captain of the latter has long been
anxious TO monopolize their supply ofbuls.
The Gala, three,decker, just of the stocks,
replaces the Bourbon" which lately went to
pieces, owing, as some will have it, to false
bottom put on her fifteen years ago; but most OF
her crew have made oath that she missed stays
from the obstinacy of her late commander. and
the rascallv conduct Of her pilot, Polly Mack
who, after showing his we'll known mess mate,
Martin Mack, from the helm, land heavng his 0est
chart overheard, attempted to run down the
:. Constitution Frigate; but he got 50 much
bilge water into the old ships hold, that she
foundercd. after three DAVIS hard pumping. The
..Galla" has Just boen commissioned by Com
modore Lewis Philip, abrave and experienced
sailor; he has an uproarOus crew to deal with.
rather too much given to live at free quarters;
and besides having taken too many ''guards" on
board, is scarcely allowed any will of his own.
1t Is thought, also. that his officers afraid to
stand to their guns, and that there is too much
club Lao about the management OF the powder
magazine. This vessel, however, afforded good
proof of her being we'll boted and sound in her
tmbers, when driven lately OIL CommotiOn Bar;
since righting, she is cranker and more easy
to trim than at any time since she was launched
The Bafaria, two-decker, commonly sails un-
der the Orange flag: but part of her crew being
in state of mutiDy against their commander, a
fine honest hearted Holander, one Capt. Nassau,
they have tackled an old rag, to the foremost.
whilst furious Potter has cOntrived to unship
her rudder, Old Nassau has resigned the con-
mand OF the quarter deck to his first lieutenant;
the second having already administered seven
thousand lashes, without succeeding in forcing
his way into the main cabin. 1t is thought this
vessel must be broken up; her planking is badly
laid, and has started from its ribs; all the bolts
are loose, her dead lights are shivered, and Maa-
men has upset her pinnacle. There are mater-
ais enough about her for two crack frigates: in
this case. however, one new commission, at least,
must be issued: but by whom? and to whom?
aye! there's the rub! The Batavia has hoist
too busy trimming their own courses to lend her
a hand in quelias the mutiny.
The City Of Berlin is of hermaphrodite built.
veering between two and three. decker, though
she would willingly be deemed the latter
She was launched fom the great slip on the Spree.
some hundred and fifty wears ago, where she was
timbered by Brandenburgh shipright: but has
been gradually raised and now carries two tiers
of guns, but the last of which was fshed up during
recent haul along the banks of the Rhine. Her
commander keeps her apparently in an excel
lent state Of repair, but she has the same defects
as the =: Batavia" she is badly bolted together.
and lays so uneasy at her mornings that it is fear
ed her spring cable will give way. The want of
a - utiny Act" though that has long been in
the wind prevents her hands from piping togeth-
err, aud keeps her crew in fear, lest when their
present captain pops below the next may apply
the cat-o'-nine tails too Justify. From what we
can discern of her present COURSES, she seems
bearing down on the Dutchman: but the ''Gal-
liza" has got betwixt them, and ifthe Royal VIII
liam'' venture to board, 1t is conceived her black
eagles NAV have their necks twisted. or that she
may be dismantled of her Rhenish forecaste.
The Hspn,ia, "a gun ship, cut down from
three-decker. In days of yOre. when the noto-
rious Charley Quint was in command, she was the
dread and wonder of Chrlstendom; but from the
posting of his son Philip. down to the commission
vested in her present master Ferdinand, she has
been, scurviy badly looked after, so that, what
betwixt the left handed kindness of neighbors,
i Al a. h., -