The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-02-19

&c, &c. 10 ell of which. in our opinion. he has
been sminently sscesssfol. and 10 such degsss
as to insure h,m m snvi sbls place on she pages
Of the future history Of his eoustry.
W. hope now that the Princeton can be no
longer regarded as an experiment, aud that the
application Of the Improvements, on larger
scale, which she exhibits. promise such useiui-
ness 10 the county. 10 sec an appropriation made
al the present session Of Congress with direc
tons 20 Captain Stockton 10 employ II IN the
construction Of ship Of the largest class on the
same principle.
We understand that invitations will be issued
10 members Of Congress generally. TO visit The
Princeton on Tuesday next, and on some sub
sequent day this week, to an extensive number
Of ladies.
Let US no. omi. TO pay deserved tribute TO
the courteous and genilemanly department of all
the officers Of The Princeton, as well TO tae
admiratie conduc, and discipline Of the crew.
We close by copying an official account Of
this extraordinary ship, from letter on file in
The Navy Department, written by the gallant
Capt. Stockton:
The Princeton is 81 full rugged ship Of great
speed and po~. able perform any service lbs. can
be expected from ship Of war. Constructed upon
the most approved principle. Of naval architecture,
she believed TO be at least equal TO any ship of her
class, <ih her soils. She has an auxiliary power OF
steam and can make greater speed than any sra-go-
ing other vessel heretofore built. Her en-
gines lie snug the bottom Of the vessel Of reach
Of mn ~nemy's shot, and do not Al all interfere with
the Of the sails but tan, at any time, be made
au hilary thereto She shows chimney, and makes
no smoke, and there il nothing in her external APP
pesrancc TO indicate that rhc IL propelled by steam.
The advantages Of the Prince ton over both sailing
ships and seamers propelled in the usual way, are
great and obvious. She 70 in and out Of port 1t
pleasure without regard 10 the farce direction Of
the wind tide, the thickness OF the ice. She
ride safely with her anchors in the most open road
stead and may lie TO in the stverest gale of wind
with safety. She not only herself, but will
be allie to squadron from the dangers Of lee
shore. Using ordinarily the power Of the wind, and
reser,ing her fuel for emergencies, she remain at
the length Of time AS other sailing ships
Making noise, smoke, or agitation Of The water,
(and if she chooses, showing sail she surprise
enemy. She can At pleasure take her own posi-.
ton, and her own distance from the enemy. Her
engines and water wheel being below the surface of
the water safe from enemy shot, she is in dan
ger of being disabled, if her should be Jcs-
troyed. She will not be at daily expense for fuel,
other steamships are. The engines being seldom
used, will probably ou,last two such ships. These add
vantages make the Princeton in my opinion the cheap
est fastest and most certain ship in the world The
equiv mens Of this chip Of the painest and mos,
substantial kind the furniture OF tho cabins being
made of white pine boarss, painted white, with ma
hogsny chairs, table, and sid. board, and Amer
can manufactured oil-clo,h the floor. To econo-
mze ROOM and that the ship hay be better ventilated
curtains OF American manufactured inen subs,i |
tuted for The usual and more cumbrous and xpen- |
i've wooden bulk heads, by which aran. emeni The |
apartments Of the men and officers may in instant |
be thrown into one and degree Of spsciousorss and
comfort u attained unusual in ship Of her class
The Princeton is armed with two long 225 pound
~Iought-iron guns and twelve AZ pound carron-
AIDES all of which may be used al either
side Of the ship. She consequently throw a
greater weight OF metal at one broad-ide than most
irigat,s The big guns of the Princeton be fired
with effect terrific and almost incredible and with
a certainty heretofore unknown. The extraordinary
effects Of the shot were proved, by fri at target
which was made TO represent a section Of the two
sides and deck of "a guo-shp, and ,imbered, knecd
planked, and holted in the same manner. This tar
get was $50 yards from tho gun. With the smaller
charges Of powder the shot passed through these
mense masses Of timber, (beng 81 inches thick
tearing it away. and spIinernQ il for several feet on
each side, and covering The whole surface of the
ground, for hundred yards square, with fragments
OF wood and iron. The accuracy with which these
guns throw their immense SLOT hch the feet
in circumference may be judged by this that SIX
shot fired in succession at the same elevation uck
the same horizontal plank in target than half
mile distant. BY the application of the various aris
To the purposes board the Princeton il is |
believed that the art Of gunnery for service has
for the first time, been reduced to something like
themaiicsl certainty. The distance to which these
guns throw their shot, at every necessary ans
Of elevation, has been sscetained by series of care
fu experiments. The distance from the ship TO any
object is readily ascertained with an instrument on
board, conriveJ for that purpose by an observation
which requires but instant 10 make and by in
spection without calculation BY self acting locks
the guns be free accurately al the necessary ele
vation, matter what the motion Of the ship may
be. It is confidently believed that this small ship
will be able TO battle with any vessel however large
II she is not invncibe agains, any foe. The improve
menls in the art of war adopted board the Prince
ton, may be productive Of more important results
than anything that has occurred since the invention
Of gunpo~der. The numerical force Of other ma
vcs, so long boasted, may be set at nought. The
ocean may again become neutral ground, and the
rights Of the smallest well the greatest nations
may once more be respected.
All of which, for the honor and defence Of every
inch OF our territory, IA most respectfully submitted
TO the honorable Secretary Of the Navy for the nor
nation Of the President and Congress of the United
States,
BY your obedient and faithful servant,
X, Y. STOCKTON,
Captain u. s. Navy