Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-28
THE FRIGATE CONsTITUTION-OLD
IRONSiDES.
From the Boston Commercial Gazette.

HE shin will be hauled into the new and splendid
dry dock. which has recently been completed at
the Navy Yard, in the presence probably Of the
President of the United States, and OF many
other distinguished officers of the government, as
we'll as Of an immense concOurse OF our fellow
citizens, and as every circumstance relative to
this fayori,e ship will now be rendered doubly
interesting. we propose to offer brlef history OF
her splendid and glorious career. part OF which
is from memory, having been present when she
was launched. part Irom official documents anu
part We have cleaned from the old newspapers OF
the day. She was built at Harris shlP-yaru, al
the north end, situated between Tue "h"iS'"'
on, Isrry ways and Marine Railway, and was
i,nncbs1 under the superintendent Of Col.
CI,cuoRy. the builder, on Saturday, the 2lst OF
Oc,oher. 1897; consequently she is now nearly
tbi,ty.six wears old. In Russell's Boston Com.
mprcial Gazette of the next Monday, we hnd the
following notice:-
"THs LAuNoH,-A Magnificent Spectacle
On Saturday Last. at fifteen minutes past VI. the
frisate CONSTITUTION was launched into the
adjacent element. on which she nov rides an ele.
CANT and superb specimen OF American Naval
Architecture, combining the unity OF wisdom,
strength and beauty. The tide being amply iu'l'
she descended into the bosom OF the ocean win
an ease and dignity, which. while il afforded the
most exhalted and heartfelt pleasure and salts.
faction 10 the many thousand spectators, was the
guarantee Of her, and the pledge, that no occur
renee should mar the joyous SENSATIONS that eve
nv one experienced; and " hch burst forth IN re-
iierated shouts, which - rent The ,ce!kin" On
a signal being given from on board, her ord
nance, on shore, announced to the neighoor,nS
country, that the CONSTITUTION WAS
SECURE. Too much praise cannot De gwen 10
Col. CLAenoRN, for the GOODNESS aud regularity
displayed IN the whole business OF the launch;
and the universal congratulations ne received.
were evidences Of the public testimony Of DIS
skill, intelligence, and circumspecton."
The severe labor that attended her birth,
which was only effected at the third trial, was
seized upon BY the enemies of navy, who al
that time were numerous and powerful, as pro
phetic Of i'll k.-wi,h how little reason, her
br,llian, career has fully demonstrated: We may
safely challenge the annals of naval history TO
n,me the shin that has done 50 much to fill the
measure of her country's glory. She sailed on
her first cruise. on Sunday, the 22d OF July,
1898, add IN the Commercial Gazette OF the
next morning. we find the following
" Yesterday sal,ed on cruise for the protec.
t;on Of our commerce, the frigate Constitution,
commanded bv Captain Samuel Nicholson -
This noble friyate reflects honor On all concern
ed in her construction;- on the agent Tor obtain.
inc eyery material of the best kind for her equip
ment. and for having the same manufactured IN a
super,or manner; Oh the builder, for the execu-
tiop of the hull, in style demonstrating our ca
inability for building ships of war, at least equal
10 any IN Europe. The Captain is brave and
experlepced commander, in whom NAV be repos.
perfect confidence. Her Leutenants are young
men. who have commanded merchant ships with
approbation, and of whom fair expectations may
he entertained Her crew are, with very few
exceptions, native sons Of Massachusetts, many
of them connected by the strongest OF human
ties. ,oires and children. Upward. OF one hun
dred seameu have given orders in favor Of their
families, to draw monthly HALL OF their pay, the
the public having made arrangements for this
nurpnse. ey,ncive of its paternal care and encou-
rayement of our marine.-It would seem that
nothing is wanting, TO render this ship and her
crew perfect, but that experience, which can on
Iy result from actual exercise at sea-"
She returned from thus cruise in the middle OF
November. This was during the brief war with
the French Republic. We notice the appoint.
ment Of Isaac Hull. as her 4th Lieutenant, who,
after the lapse Of fourteen years, was fortunate
enough to occupy higher station on her quarter
,lsck1 when the charm OF British lDvinclbllity
was destined TO be broken. On the 28th De.
cember, os the same year, she again sailed from
Boston hatbor, on her second cruise, from
which she returned few months after. without
having had the good luck to fall IN with any oil
the enemy's national ships. Less fortunate in
this respect than the Coastelia,,on under the
gallant Truxton. who, about this tune, succeed
ed 10 capturing the French frisate L'lnsursente,
Of 40 guns and All men. La VENGEANCE
large French national shipof "a guns and SEQ men,
likewise struck her coiors, but was fortunate
enough TO escape in squat. arrived at Curacoa
Eve DAYS after, a complete wreck.
Shortly after this, our commerce in the Medi-
terranean having suffered severely from the de-
our government, determined at at once on chastis-
inc Them. In MAY, 1888. Commodore Edward
Preble was appointed to the command OF this IA
vorite ship. aud n June he sailed with the squad.
ron destined TO act against Iripol': 10 ah con-
yersaut with this scene Of war. il is well known
the Constitution acted conspcupuous part, in
fact bore the brunt Of the battle After the de-