The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1839-07-04

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Interesting Facis.-The first deckcd vcs.
sci ever built within the limits Of the Old
Unit ID States, was constructed on the banks
Of the Hudson, by Adrian Block, in the sum.
mer Of l6l4. She was called yacht, and
her FIRST voyage was made through He'll
Gate, into the Sound, and as far east as
Cape Cod, by the Vineyard passage. 1t
vas 10 this voyage that Block Island was
discovered. Within the first as years after
be settlement of Massachusetts, there were
built IN Boston and its vicinity, 100 vessels,
varying from 6 TO $50 tons in burthen.--
One OF these the Blessing ofthe Bay, a bark
Of 80 tons, was built IN 1881. The cele.
braied English patriot and divine, Hugh
Peters, caused vessel Of 800 tons TO be
constructed al Salem, in l64l. The first
schr. ever launched Is said to have been built
II Cape Ann in TIA. Her name is not
known. In 1918, Connecticut had bu,
briggs, 20 sloops, ard few smaller craft,
employing but 100 seanen; while Massa.
chusetts, about the same time, had 492 YES.
sels, the tonnage of which was 2S,406, end
employed 3493 seameu. The first ensign
ever shown BY regular American man-of.
war, was halSied on board the frioale AL
red, IN the Delaware, by the hands Of Paul
jones, IN the latter part of December, 1915.
hat this ensign was is not precisely
known, as the present national colors were
not formally adopted until l117. The first
regular American cruiser that went TO sea,
gu laa / La = I 4
commanded by Captain John Barry, Of
Philadelphia. She sailed some time 10 tie
winter Of 1916. The first American man
otwar that got 10 sea after the adoption Of
our present form of government, was The
Gauges. She was originally an lndlaman,
but vas purchased by the government aud
converted INTO cruiser, having an arma.
ment Of "a guns. She sailed in Nav, l70S,
under the command OF Captain Richlfd
Dale, who was FIRST lieutenant Of the Bon
Homme Richard, when that ship captured
the Scraps. The Constellation was The
hrs, Of the new built vessels that went to
sea, under Captain Truxtun. She sailed in
June, l79S, and was followed BY the United
States, aud a little later BY the Constitution,
both these latter sailing IN July, :he same
year. The first prize made under our pre-.
sent naval organization, was the French
privateer lie Croyable. She was schoon.
err OF Ii guns, and was captured by the
sloop of war Delaware, Captain Decatur
The above historical facts We have CLEANED
from Mr.. Coopers excellent Naval History
Of the United States.-Bostoa Post.
Steam boat o-fmportat DeciSica.-
We learn from the New-OrIeaus Bee, that
the U. S. Circuit Court for louisiana has
decided that the law of Congress concern.
mg steam boats, is not applicable TO boats
navigating the Mississippi river. There
are nearly one hundred and fifty suits, to
which this decision is applicable. The
case,-selore the Court was that Of the Uni.
ted States vs.. Capt Price, on an Informal
ton, that the said Captain had not complied
with the act of Congress in procuring iron
tlller ropes for the use of his boat.
THIS seems to US to be a most extraordi.
nary decision, as Congress in passing the
law intended TO have more direct reference
TO the steam boats navigating the Mssissip-
pi and other Western waters, than 10 those
10 other parts Of the country. The decs.
ion may be RICH. by the letter of the law,
but II is strangely Inconsistent with the in.
!eniion OF those who made 1t.
Fighting BY measrre.-The usual place
of resort tor Dublin duelists, is called the
Fifteen Acres. An attorney OF that city,
in pennins challenge, thought most like.
Ily, he was drawing lease, aud invited his
ANTAGONIST to meet HIN al the place called