Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-02-27

The arrival Of this noble ship IN our "atis 1857
ming will give additional interest to the following ,1 h
ter from her gallant commander, TO the oecieH'y - '
Nnvy:-[ EdshingtOn Spectator.
UNITED STATES SHIr PRIscETos,
Philadelphia, Feb. >, 1874
Sir: The u S Ship Princeton having received "e,
armament on board, and being nearly ready Tor sea-
have the honor to transmit 10 you the following acco"
Of her equ pnieIt &c: .
| The Princeton is a "fu-rigged ship, OF grea'
naad and power able to perform any service That can
he expected from ship OF war. Constructed uPp.
The most approved principles OF naval que
"a lie we'd 10 be nj least equal to any sup OF net ciss
| w,Ib her sails She has n auxiliary power oil steam
md can make greater speed than ony going steamer
or other vessel heretofore built Her englpes I've snug
in the bottom Of the vessel out OF reach oil an enemy
shot aud do not all interfere with the use OF Tue
sos but cam al any time he made AUXILIARY 'heie.o-
She shows chimney, and makes no smoke, ana lee
!. nothing IN her external appearance u i"ueae M
She IS propelled by steam
Tba ,dvantaoes of the Princeton over both sailing
-bps ANA STEAMERS, propelled IN the usual way a'e
grea ard obvious She can go IN ana out OF port III
Measure without regard TO the force or direction oil Inc
;od ar tide or the thickness OF the ice. She can ride
safely with her anchors the most open roadsiei; and
NAV lie to in the severesl gale of wind with safety
She can not only herself but will be able 10 t1w
SQUADRON from the dangers OF lee shore. Using od-
narly the power of the wind and reservng her fuel or
emergencies she can remain at sea the same length OF
time as other sailing ships Making no noise, smoke,
or agitation of the water, land IT che chooses showing
no sail y she can surprise an enemy she can az piea'
sure take her position, and her own distance rom
the enemy. Her engines ard waterwheel beng oeio"
the surface of The water, safe from an enemys shot,
she in no Danger Of being disabled ii her masts
should be DESTROYED She will not be al daily expense
for fIe, as other steam ships The engines beng
seldom used will probably outlast two such ships
These advantages make the Princeton, IN my opinion,
the cheapest fastest and most certain ship Of war IN
tbo ha of This shin oil The
painest and most substantial kind the furniture oil the
cabins being made Of white pine boards, painted whe,
with mahogany chairs, table, and sdeboard, and an
American manufactured OIL cloth on the floor 10 eco
nomise room, and that the ship may be better venti-
lated, curtains of American manufactured linen are
substituted for the usual and more cumbrous and ex-
pensve wooden bulkheads, by which arrangement the
apartments of the and officers may, in an instant,
be thrown into one, and degree OF spaeiousness and
comfort is attained, unusual in ship OF her class
TIE Princeton is armed with two long 20 pound
wrought IRON guns; and twelve AZ pound carronades;
all of wlc NAV be used I'll either side OF the
ship Size can consequently throw greater weight o.
metal At broadside than most irigaes ne p'g
guns OF the Princeton be fired with an effect Ter
rife, and almost incredible, and with certainty here
tolore unknown The extraordinary effects oil lie so
proved, by firing at target, which was made 10
represent section of the two sides and deck OF u
Il gun ship and mbered, kneed, panked and bolted
in the same manner This target was 900 yards from
the gun. win the emdIiel cnalges vi Ponueii 'He
shot passed through these immense masses oil umoer
(beng 81 inches thck,) tearing it away and splinter
ing for several feet each sde and covering the
whole surface of the ground, for hundred yards
square, with fragments OF wood and iron. lie accn-
racy with which these guns throw their immense sho'
which are three feet circumference, may be Judged
by this that SIX shot fired succession al the same
Gle yaton, struck The same horizontal plank IN tar
get than half mile distant BY the application
Of the various arts TO the purposes oil war on board
the Princeton il is believed that The art of gunnery
for service, has for the first me been reduced TO
tnathematic certainty. The distance to which these
guns throw their shot at every necessary an
gle of elevation, has been ascartaned by series OF
careful experiments The distance from the ship TO
any object is readily ascertaned with insiru-
nent board, con,ryed for that purpose, by an OBJ
ssrvaton which ii requires but instant to make and
by inspection without calculation. BY self acting locks,
the guns he fred accurately the necessary eeva
ton, no matter what the motion Of the ship may he
1t is confidently believed, that ti'is small ship w BE-
able 10 do battle with any vessel however large, if she
is not nvnclbe against any foe. The improvements
in the art Of war; adopted on board the Princeton, may
be productive Of more important results than any thing
that has occurred since the invention OF Eunpowder.
The numerical force Of other nnyles, long boosted,
may be set at naIght. The may again become
neutral ground aud the rights OF the smallest az as
the greatest nations, may more be respected.
All Of which, for the honor and defence OF every inch
Of territory, is most respectfully submitted 10 the
Hon Secretary OF the Navy for the information OF the
President and Congress of the u. s,
BY your obedient and faithful servant,
r F. STOCKTON,
Cdptain T. S .iacy.
To Honorable DAVID IlEssnAw, Secretary Of the