Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-12-19

These passages average few hours more than
twertv-eght days each. This is the great test for
passages the easw ard are no criterion OF the sailing
qualities Of q ship.
These facts show how rapid the improvement in
mercantile ship building has been. Not so with
vessels belonging to the navy. With the exception
Of the six new sloops of war, there has been
change, and government vessels built on the
/" old system" This is caused by the incidence
and imbecility OF the Naval Board. Why not en-
gage ship builders from New York, Baltimore, and
on, aud extend liberal hand the genius Of the
country Ii is due, and Secretary Paulding should
recommend change in affairs. We have seen too
much Of this sluggishness in the American navy, and
the time has arrived fer improvement, and improve
ment we must have. Ii was but short time since
thar the packet ship Siddons, Captain N. b. Palmer.
beat the frigate United States, Cant Kearney, ten
miles in many hours, with perfect ease. The
Roscius, Capt Collins. also outsailed the English
frigate Piquc, two days, in crossing the Atlantic =
Such facts cannot be controverted, and when gov
mt vessels thus beaten by merchant ships,
il is time for q change. Gem. Hull now in the Ohio,
said that the Sddons and Roscus would outsail
any vessel in the American navy Beating the frigae
Unted States is proof Of this for she is the fastest
sailcr we have.
Fire and she Fire Department in shIs City.
The alarming frequency Of fires in this city 70
Gently, and the vast amount Of property destroyed
within the last two months, render il necessary to
call attention TO this important subject In the eight
weeks last passed, property to the amount Of more
than million Of dollars has been destroyed aad in
each instance there is every to believe that
the fire was the work OF incendiary Since the
first Of January last, thirty assurances in New York
have lost over So, 100000 Of money by fres and the
probability is that before the year Is out the amount
will be increased TO So 600 900; making an average
loss to each Office Of SlO0 600 in the short space of
one year.
We do not intend to say, for a moment, that the
Fire Department have not done their duty NJ all
those fires, TO the fullest extent of the powers they
possess; but we do say most unequvocay that the
FIRE department requires renovaing and strengthen
ing in way. II contains among its members
some &c the most excellent and capable men that
ever breathed the breath s e but still il is larnen-
tably inefficient TO arrest the progress Of great fire.
particularly in the large buildings down town. Nor
do we believe that the new Gre Law Of Alderman
Willis by dividing the city into five districts &C.,
will in any way mend the matter. The evil lies
deeper than that measure will reach.
The present Inefficient system should be entirely
done away with, and a one established on plan
wha, similar TO that Of London Of Paris. The
insurance Offices here have lost two and half mil.
lions Of dollars in year, under the present system;
whereas If they had a well organized body of paid
frennen connected with the Insurance Offices and
under their control, the whole expense, including
losses, would not GslllIOn annually, and
an organized body like those OF London, would be
twice efficient any volunteer force; or ar.
rangement might be made by which the corporation
and the insurance Offices should bear the expense
jo,rtly.
At any rate, the subject requires the serious at.
tention Of our merchants and our insurance compa.
MES There is very little doubt but tina, the desperate
body Of incendaries who laid Mobile in ashes this
summer and fall. and who caused the destructive
fire in Philadelphia, now in tina city; and unless
the most efficient preventive measures are taken,
we shall have succession of most destructive fires
this winter. Let our citizens look TO this matter,
and act accordingly.
QurcK woRK-BLEss THAT BaLL.-At the late
Thistle Ball. on Saturday last there appeared very
beautiful girl, with bright black eye and fine, white,
broad forehead. A phrenolosist, who was present,
fell desperately in love with her, and finding her out
by means Of an advertisement, he proposed TO her
Yesterday and is to be married 10 her tomorrow. So
much for the effects Of that ball Who will not say
hereafter, "keep such balls rolling"
Abolition Destruction Of Church con.