Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-03-15
DESCRIPTION OF the UNITED STATES
SHIP PRINCETON.
U. 5. SHIP PRINCETON,
phlladelphIa, Feb. 5tb, 1S4l.

U. >. SHlF PRINCETON
Philadelphia, Feb 5tb, 1S4i {
SIR: The United States ship Princeton having
received her armament on board, and being near
ly really for sea, have the honor To transmit to
you the following account OF her equipment, &c.
The Princeton is :" full lgged ship of great
speed aud power, able 10 perform any service
that can be expected from u ship of war Con-
structed upon The most approved principles OF ma
val archi .ecture, she is believed to he at least e.
quail to any ship OF her class ,Ciih her sails She
has an auxiliary power Of steam and can make
greater speed than any sea going steamer or other
vessel heretofore built. Her engines lie snug in
the bottom Of The vessel, out ol reach of all enc
my's shot, and do not at al interfere with The use
oI tie sails, but can, al any tlnc he nude auxil.
hary thereto. She shows no chimney aud makes
smoke, aud there Is nothing IN her eXernnl ap-
pearance to indicate lhal she is propelled 10y steam.
The advantages of the Princeton over both
sailing ships and steamers, propelled in The usual
way, great aud obvious. She can go in aud
out Of port AT pleasure without regard to the force
OF direction OF the wind or tide, or the thickness
of the ice. She can ride sa ely with her anchors
III lie most open roadstead aud may lie to III Tie
severesl gale OF wind with safety She can not
only save herself, but Will he able to tow squad
ron from the dangers OF shore. Using or
dnary the power of the wind, and reservlng her
fuel for emergencies, she can remain ut sea the
same length OF time us other sailing ships. Ma
king 10 noise, smoke or agitation of the water,
(hhd II size Chooses showing no sal, she can sur
prise an enemy. She can at pleasure take her
own position, and her own distance from the en-
envy. Her engines aud waterwheeI being below
the surface OF the water, sale from an enemy's
shot, she is IN no danger of being disabled, even
1t her masts should he destroyed She will not
be ut daily expense for fuel, us other steam ships
are. The engines being seldom used, will proha-
by outlast two such ships.
These nd anuges make the Princeton, in my
opinion, tile cheapest. HsIesl, and most certain
ship "I war in The world. The equipments of
tins ship are OF the painest aud most substantial
KIND the furniture OF tie cabins lciug made OF
Wine pine boards pninied Wine, with mahogany
chars, table, and sldeb ard, aud an American
manufactured oi-clolh on The floor. TO econo-
mise room, aud that the ship may he better ven-
ulated, curtains of American manufactured linen
are substituted for the usual, anG more cumbrous
aud expensive wooden bulkheads, by which ar
iangenent The apartments OF The men and officers
may, III an instant, he thrown into one aud de-
gTGe OF spacunsncss and comfort is attained un =
usual in ship oi her class The Princeton is
armed with two long 225 pound wrought iron
guns, aud twelve AZ pound ca,ronades; oil of
which may he Used at once on either side OF the
ship. She can consequently throw u greater
weight OF metal al one brOndside than most irig
utes The big guns of Tie Princeton can be fired
! with All effect terrific, aud aim jst Incredible and
! with certainty heretofore unknown. The eX-
uaorduuary effects OF The shot were proved, by
| firing NJ II target, which was made TO represent a
section Of The Two sides and deck of a "a gun
snip, and liubere'i, khtcd, planked aud boiled III
tie same nlanner.' ln's target was 500 yards
from The guu. W lih the smaller charges Of pow
dor, the shot passed through these immense mas
ses OF timber (being 81 inches hck,) tearing ii
away, aud spnIerlug ii for several feet on each
side, aud covering the whole surface OF The ground,
Tor hcndred yards square, with fragments Of
wood ana iron. The accuracy with winch these
gals throw these immense shot, (Which are three
lcet III clrc"mlerence,) may he Judged by this,
that SIX shot fired in at the same eeva.
ton, struck the same horizontal plank IN target
more than halt nile distant BY the application
oi tae various arts TO the purposes OF war on
board Tie Princeton, 1t Is believed That the ART OF
gunnery for sea service, has, tor the first time,
been reduced 10 something ike mathematical cer-
tainly.
The distance which these guns can throw
their shot al every necessary angle Of elevation,
has been ascerained by series OF careful expert
| mems. The distance from the ship 10 any object
is readily ascertlined with an instrument on board
conIri'ed Tor that purpose, hy an observation
Which II requires but AN instant to make, and by
! Inspection without calculation. by seli-aciing-
locks, the guns be fired accurately al The nee
essury elevation, no matter wha. The mo ion OF
| The ship may he. Ii is confidently believed
that this small ship will he able TO baltle With any
vessel however large if she is not invincibe a.
! galnst any foe. The improvements in the arts OF
war; adopted on board the PRINCETON, may bu pro-
ducuve OF more important results than any thing
! that has occurred SINCE the invention OF gunpow-
der The numerical force Of other naves SO long
boosted, may be sci at noughr. The ocean may
again become neutral ground aud the rights ol
the smallest US well as the greatest nations, may
| once more be respected.
All Of which, Tor the honor and defence of eve.
ry inch Of Our territory is most respectfully sub
mtied to The honorable Secretary OF the Navy,
Tor the Information OF the President aud Congress
! Of the Uuiied States.
by your oOedcnI and faithful servant,
X. +. ; rOCKiON,
Captain U. 5. Navy.
| To Hon. DAVID HENsnAw,
Secretary vi The Navy.