The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-04
WOE. a...NO. 9OO.

designed for her,and the sailing qualities Of yes
sells have been known TO depend on this single
point This shin was constructed on the same
principle az the Boston, and her qualities indicate
their correctness.
Launching draft of water of the
Brandy wine, aft l6 fl. 6 IN, forward IL IT.
! in, difference feet.
Potomac, aft IS TT. 8 in, forward II fl. 6 in.'
| difference fl. 2 in.
Columbia, aft l6 it. 6 in, forward IL #. Ain,
difference f. 2 in.
CHARACTER OF THE MACEDONIA, 1885,
About the qualities of this ship as a sea boat,
| there can be no difference of opinion, Sheis
EASY, dry, stands well up under her canvass,
and is, so far as we could Judge, weatherly. We
| crossed the Gulf Stream with very strong
wind, almost gale from N E. with short tum-
bling sea on the beam and quarter, which incom-
NODDED her as little, as think it could have Done
any ship Of her size. The pilot who brought US
! into this bay, (Pensacola,) expressed an opln-
ion that in working up rom the outer bar to
| the NAVY Yard, with light breeze, she moved
and worked quicker than any Of the sloops
! on this station would have done under the
same circumstances, excepting perhaps the
! Levant.
| The Macedonia oHsails with ease in every
way the Erie ard Ontario, and sails with, II
| she does'no outsail, the Levant One quallty
of great value, ready obedience to her helm,
she has in as much perfection as any ship can
! have. On our return TO port, we beat over the
bar and round the shoaI called the Spit, with
the wind at N. w. as much OF 1t as we could
carry single reefed, topsails too, and very un-
steady in flaws. No ship could work better
| or stand up better under her canvass.
| have to inform you that the alterations made
in the trim of the Macedonia, and the cleaning
of her bottom, have much improved her sail
ing. On the passage from Boston to this place,
Eastport) we found that we could spare about,
half her canvass to the sloops. My opinion now
is, that the Macedonian fast ship, going free,
and fair sailing ship on a wind
When we left New York there was only in
ches difference in the draft of water taken at
single anchor wit 80 fathoms Of chain out. The
Improvement in the working and steering OF this
ship, is remarked by every one, and she is the
easiest ship that have ever been to sea In"
So much for the character of these ships, and
think that they will bear comparison with
foreign ships ofw
British naval architects with all their expert
ence, ana all their science, aided as they have
been by eminent men not of the profession, are
still seeking the true form. Their perseverance
and research nav enable them to reach the de-
sired goal As far as the experience OF this
!. country has gone, 1t shows that those ships
which have the greatest length in proportion
n TO their breadth are the fastest saiers. In this
country ships are built and launched by Naval
Architects, and here their duty seems to END,
the equipment, the quantity and position oil
the ballast. the dimensions of masts and yards,
and trim of the ship, are determined by otheT
persons. The ship departs on cruise, is found
not to answer the expectations formed Oh her'
and she is pronounced failure Inc con
structor alone is censured, anL sometimes with
- &c he ron n
alter the trim of the ship and test her qualltie:
/ under the different circumstances. A case
on record which shows that shifting two gun!
J., from the bow to the stern, made heavy sail
ing shin fast one. We have cases in our OWL
Navy of a similar character. Witness the fri
oates Uni ed States and Constitution, That
, errors NAV have been committed IN the con-
struction of ships of war is not denied, and on
a subject so complex as naval construction,
where opposing qualities are to be brought To-
gether, entire success must not be looked lof;
but close observation on the character OF SHIPS
ABLY drawn by their commanders will do much
to improve the science. The Commander
and the Architect must have free communica-
ton with each other, and with knowledge OF
a sbip's character, and of her dimensions and
| calculated elements, the size and position OF
her masts, the quantity and distribution OF her
. ballast defects may be remedIed In sueeeedlhg
vessels; but improvement cannot be expected,
if there should be no harmony amongst those
who are to associate for this purpose. Supee-
riority must not be claimed unless justly award
ed TO sunerior talents and attalnments
1t is hoped that the foregoing statement OF
facts will satisfy the editor OF the Mercantiie
JonrnaI. that the chief constructor has not de-
served the censure which has been attempted
to be cast on him. III. Q.