The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-10-23


Philadelphia, October n l643. =
Hon, Dawn HENsuAw,
Secretary efths Mary
SIN have The honor to inform you that 4 left the
Delaware on Tuesday, the 7th instant, 20 try the
Princeton at sea- and returned TO this place asi night
TO finish her equipment The Princeton has per-
formed so well, under all circumstances, that loo
much cannot be said in praise of her, We arrived
at Sandy Hook on Wednesday, in u hours from
Newcastle We went up to the city Of New York
to show ourselves and 70 give notice 20 the Captain
Of the English Steamer Great Western that de-
signed to hare trial Of speed with that vessel On
Thursday the Western came out of the East river,
and The trial took place from The Battery to the sea-
Ia which we gained most glorious triumph 10 the
presence Of many thousands of fellow citizens
assembled TO witness TIE useful and exciting contest
The following account which was made al ihe time
by two gentlemen who came board for that purS
pose prefer to send 10 you rather than trust nay
own pen on the SUBJECT You viii allow me, how
ever 70 add that The Princeton i now admitted 10 be
the fastest and most beautiful, she viii hereafter
be admitted to be the most formidable ship sfoat;
At 80 minutes past O'Clock, p M, whilst the
Princeton was lying in the North river, the Great
Western was seen passing the Battery, under full
head Of steam blowing off strong, and with her fore
and aft sails set the wind blowing fresh from the west
ward The Princeton Immediately started her engine,
gave chase and coming up astern of the Great Western
soon passed with no sails set and the yards square
The Western then set her square sails, and the
Princeton, following her example, made sail also,
and continued to widen the gap between the two yes
sells When the Princeton had arrived at the Buoy
of the middle below the Narrows she was more
than mile ahead Of the Great Western. Here the
latter ship, 10 make good the distance she had lost,
took the "Swash Channel which is three miles
shorter than the ordinary ship channel which the
Princeton had taken before she was aware of the m
tention of the Great Western. Notwithstanding the
greater distance she had passed over, she met the
Western again at the Black Buoy the Outer Bar,
and there passed under her stern about two lengths
distant, then hauled up on line parallel to her.
When coming alongside Captain Stockton wished
Captain Hosken pleasant passage, and the crew of
the Princeton gave the Western three cheers. The
Princeton then rapidly passed ahead of the Western,
in two minutes crossed her bow, and then hauled up
for the Capes Of the Delaware.
From the time that the Princeton passed Castle
Garden till she finally left the Great Western was
one hour and f(ty-six minutes, during which time
she had beaten her three miles.
The Princeton occupied one hour and thirty-o
minutes in going from Castle Garden TO Sandy Hook
Point, a distance of more than twenty-one miles );
thus showing her speed 10 have been more than four
teen miles per hour and that against the food tide,
and proving her to be the fastest seagoing steamer
the world
The Great Western accomplished the distance TO
the Bar in considerable less time than she had ever
done before having been well prepared for the
sim.
The Princeton had her full compliment of coal in
her bunkers, also the greatest part of her water
and stores and quantity Of coal on deck equal to
the weight of her armament
Your obedient and faithful servant
r. F. STOCKTON.