The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-06-22

NEw LONDON PACKET VIcToRIA."-A supert
ship, bearing the above name, has just been added
10 the old line of London packets, OF which Mr
John Grswold is the agent. Her builders were
Messrs Westervelt Il Mackay, who have acquired
such great celebrity in ship building, and IT the VIC
tora is 10 be taken as an evidence of their skill and
workmanship, they have reason TO be proud Of this
effort Of theirs in producing so perfect specimen OF
naval architecture.
We had the pleasure, In common with an I'M
mense concourse of spectators, in seeing the ship
launched, and have no hesitation in saying that a
more beautiful sight has rarely, if ever, been seen
in our harbor. What made the scene the more in
teresting, from the fact of her being launched
with all her masts and spars standing; the weather
at the time being remark ably fine, while there was
Just sufficient breeze TO create a ripple upon the
water, and she glided into its embrace, the grace
and symmetry of her proportions were revealed with
singular beauty and distinctness. The splendid
statue of Queen Victoria, by which the ships bow
is ornamented, was the subject OF general and de-
served commentator.
We yesterday visited the ship, where she now
hes, at Pine street wharf, and enjoyed for few
moments view of her spacious and elegant cabins.
The gentlemen's is finished in that convenient, and
luxurious style for which ourpacket ships famed
the furniture therein is of the richest and most
costly description, while the state rooms are unu-
suay large, perfectly neat we'll ventilated, and ex-
hbting an air of comfort which has never been sur
passed
After gratifying senses with view ofthe luxu-
rious and convenient arrangements to be found
in this department of the ship, we were shown
into the Ladies' Cabin This is most lovely
apartment, and certainly the painest, neatest, and
yet the riches of the kind we ever saw. The doors
and pannelling are composed of white wood, paint
ed, and then elegantly polished, of snowy white.
ness, and as smooth as mirror; pllasters between
the state rooms running from the floor to the CELL
ing, composed of the same description of wood,
most brilliantly polished, surmounted with hand
somely carved caps, and resting upon pedestals to
correspond, and all onamented with ilagree work
of exquisite workmanship. The furniture Is made
to correspond with the chase and elegant apartment
containing it, the whole forming tout ensemble OF
the most delightful description.
We next looked into the wheel-house, where
Jack takes his station, and most admirable one il
is Here the man at the wheel is most effectualIy
sheltered from the "cold peltings of the pitiless
storm !" while, on board nearly all other vessels, he
is exposed to be regular target to be bored al
by all kinds of weather. We thence proceeded to
the forecastle, where we found the arrang ements
for the seamen 10 be in perfect keeping with all the
other good features of the ship. Captain E. E. Nor
gan, under whose supervision the Victoria was
built, commands her-he has been engaged in the
London trade from his boyhood. Captain Morgan
enjoys high reputation as shipmaster, navigator
and seaman, and is one of the most popular com
manders belonging to the port. May success at
tend him and his new ship, which sails for London
ON the LIST of July next.
The VoTE IN THE MCKENZIE CAsE-The public
have at last been gratifed by full and explicit
statement of the facts relative to the state of the
vote in the Court Martial, by which Commander
Mckenzie was technically absolved from all cn-
minality in hanging three men at the yard arm of
the Somers without a trial. The testimony OF Capt.
McKeever gives us the whole truth. 1t is as fol-
lows
First-What is your name age and profession occu-
paon7 Do you know the parties in this suit either
The witness answered rescrvng his right to object to
the of proceeding or to any question that might
Answer-isasc McKeever aged forty eight, Captain in
the Navy OF the United States know the plaintiff.
Second-Werc you member ofthe Court Martial con.
vened at Brooklyn about the month of February in
the one thousand eight hundred and forty three Tor
did you act in that capacity Were you present on the
twentyeghth dav of March, ls4s or thereabouts when
the said Court Martial came to decision upon the mat
tiers submitted to them2
Answer was a membsr fsuch Court Martial. l was
present at the time referred to.
Third-How many members OF the Court were present,
and what their n9mes.
Ans wer-Twelve Captains Downes, Read, Bolton,
Sloat Turner Storer, myself Paige, Gwynn, Wyman,
and Commanders Ogden and Shubrick
Fourth-What the vote of the said Court upon the
first charge to wit that alleging that the sad alexander
United States vessel the high seas' being intended
hereby to enquire how many votes were given IN the
affirmative, that the said charge was proven and how
many in the negative said charge proven.
Please to state how you know the fact
Answer.-Ih have kept no notes. answer from memory
merely. On the charge nine members voted that the
charge not proven three voted that was proven IN
the second oegreeby this understood them to intend
that the act w as proven, but without malice
Fith.-Whst was the OF the said Court upon the
second charge to wit alleging that the said Alex
snd specfynr thai the oppression Consisted in hanging
Philip Spencer Elisha Small and Samuel Cromwell
being intended hereby to inquire how many votes were
and how many in the negative that the said charge was
no. proven. Please to state how you know the fact
Answer-I answer from memory. On the second
charge nine members voted that the charge net
proven-three voted that it was proven.
sxth.-What the vote Of the said Court upon the
third charge w.t. that alleging that the said Alexander
SideIl Mckenzie had been guilty Of INJECTING illegal
punishment and specifying that such illegal punishment
consisted in hanging Philip Spencer Elisha Small and
Samuel Cromwell 1t being hereby intended to inquire
how many given in the affirmative, that the
said charge proven, and how many in the negative
that the said charge not proven Please to state how
you know the fact
Answer.-I answer from memory. Nine members voted
that the charge not proven three that the charge
proven II possible that this charge eight voted
that the charge net proven and four that 1t was
proven But my strong impression is, that on all the
etNA1n tnnf NJ I'M
proven.
If there were four who voted that this charge was
proven one the four also voted that the act JUST
fed by necessity J. McKEEVER.
Cross examined by the Counsel for the defendants
Q,-How was the vote OF the several members taken
A-Viva voce.
Q-wss it audibly pronounced by each in your hear
ing as is was given7
Alt was.
QAre you entirely that as TO the first charge the
vote stood nine TO three
A-Yes-I am. j. McKEEVER.
Gworn hefora me bp 9Th dav of une Iq43