The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-06-13
NEWPORT.
WEDNESDAY. JUNE la, 1888.

speci,nen Of Naval architecture, and have seen
a sight which will be long impressed upon our
mind. Although we feel incompetent to do il
well, we shall attempt description Of the ship
its internal arrangement, the most prominent
objects of attention, and the appearance and dis
cipline of the crew. Our readers must bear
in mind that this is the first time that we have
seen line -of-battle ship, and therefore many
of our remarks may refer to objects common
place to them, although new to us.
On first approaching the Hercules we were
somewhat disappointed with regard to her size,
as, we believe have been all other "green horns"
aho have visited her-our imagination hav-
ing exaggerated her proportions beyond all rea-
sonablc bounds.-But this impression soon
wore off, and when we compared her with the
Cavorite, her ccnsort,-a ship of seven or eight
hundred tons, which looks ike play thing in
the comparison--our judgment was instantly
corrected and the vast proportions and majes-
tic appearance of the Hercules were strongly
developed The great height of the hammock
nottings from the water, (being near 80 feet,)
makes her hull look short, MS all three-deckers
must look, but in every other respect the SYM
etry and precision of her appearance reminds
us forcibly of Cooper's unequalled descriptions.
Her towering nasts and maze Of rigging we
viii barely mcntion-and leave our readers to
imagine all their "tracery." Our next step
will be on the accommodation lsdder-rigged
out on the starboard side Of the ship, along
which il runs, diagonally, from the main chan
mel to platform just above the water-.ormng
handsome and convenient staircase, with ban
isters on each side. Up this we go, aud as we
90 we glance at the huge and ponderous impli-
mcnts of war, which are brstling tier above
tier, through her open ports. AT length we
reached the gangway, and the lively scene
which met orr eye, took from MS for time the
power of noticing particular objects. Some
hundreds of visitors, among whom were mum
Der of ladies', were on board at the time we
write of, and these with her seamen, themselves
host, were scattered on her spacious decks
in moving mutitudes. The first thing which
strikes the observer, after glance at the clean
lincss Of her deck, redoien Of "holy stones" and
the neatness which predomnates--is the total
abstinence of all apparent discipline or etiquette.
Visitors are throngng in and out Of the vessel
without any ceremony, and, il not ladies, with
out any notice-but Frenchman is too gallant
to allow them to pass without he hands them o.
yer. A few sentinels are posted round the ship,
probably to prevent descrtion, but they interfere
with no visitors and both officers and men all
appear desirous Of gratifying Yankee curiosity
TO the greatest extent. The cabins-the
Princes rooms-the officers state rooms, are
all opened to inspection at convenient hours
and although nothing is elegant, all appears
comfortable and commodous. The Princes
apartments are on the larboard side of the ship
and consist Of small sitting room--in which is
apiano--a bedroom, furnished with sofa bed
stead and toilet room, beyondwhic is a door
that opens on the gallery which encirclcs the
stern of thc>ship, protected by an iron railing.
This must be pleasant retreat, we think, in a
long sca-voyage. The furniture in these a
partments is neat and handsome, but has no pre-
tensions to elegance, and is little better than we
observed in some of the officers quarters. Com
modore easy has similar apartments on the OPP
posite SIDE ofthe ship, and between them are two
spacious cabins, the aftermost one Will
doors which open on the stern gallery before
mentioned. These apartments are all under tho
poop deck which extends n few feet forward
of the mizen mast and are entered from tho
the spar deck OF the ship.
In warm, pleasant weather awnings are ex
tended aft from the mainmast over the spar anc
quarter decks, and when we went on board, ma
tional flags were suspended from the forward
end of the awning across the deck and along the
sides, to keep out the sun; inclosing space on
On the larboard side of this space was stationed
the ships band, while the centre was occupied
by goodly portion of the crew, who relieved
each other in sustaining sprightly dances, while
rhrongs Of spectators were viewing the scene.
Forward Of the man-mast the deck was clear
save the space occupied by the guns at th,
sides, and the launch and some spare spars il
the middle and canoe, thirty feet long, whicl
was presented to the Prince in Rio. On the lar
board side some Of the seamon are almost con
tinually engaged, when off active duty, in th,
practice of fencing with foils, or wooden swords
and their quick movements, and the clash o
their weapons adds much TO the excitement
Of the scene.
We will now pass down on the first gun deck
on this, in the bows of the vessel is the sick
bay" where two OF three men are now lying
one Of them, we are informed, in deep con-
sumption. This apartment is roomy, light and
airy, the ports being furnished with sashes. A.
bait Of this are the ships coppers and cooking
apparatus, amidship is cage containing tur-
keys, hens, ducks, &c, for ships use, and va
riety Of animals which have been presented TO
TIE Prince. af the yarinus nlaces he has visited