The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-10-25
LAUNCH os rnE ST. Mays.


Yesterday afternooa crowds OF psops, OF all fahAs
and conditions, of btu ssxes sad ." Aea
white TO black--sope 10 rags ana o'ne'' :" ~.
est and the best attire, and mol a lew ~ ''"'''0
from the cab the meanest possible MODE Oh Pe'So"'
conveyance TO the capacious and luxurious
were br;skly moving in every direction, over NIL aho
highway, all conyergng to one Pon'-'ne N'',
| yard ,.h;.b had become the Of great and
irresistible attraction True. there was to be merely
the launching of a vessel but the excitement may
he pardoned on reflection that the event was most
auspiciously hailed proper snd becoming oeca-
sion TO disspa,e, in part, the monotony that usually
pervades the city after the adjournment OF Congress-
| and during the sumner and the autumn.
The twenty. seventh Congress having made an APP
uropriaon for the increase of the Navy, six sloops
of-war, OF the frst class, ordered to be ouit
under the direction Of naval constructors and 10 be
named after the towns first settled by the emigrants
tosthe New World--namely, jamestown, Albany,
Germantown, Portsmouth, Plymouth, and 81
Mary's.
"he keel of the St. Mary's laid in the month
of June, ls43: but owing to an exhaustion OF the
first appropriation, and the unavoidable delay In OBJ
tanning additional funds she has just been completed
Her length is one hundred and fifty feet between per-
pendiculars, breadth thirty-sx feet, eighteen feet
hold twelve hundred tons burden and is pierced for
twenty-,ix guns. Her beautiful model was designed
by Col Brode. The rigging and armament are
ready, and we learned that she be prepared for
sea in about four weeks.
The hills opposite tho shiph oths, By thsss o'dtuck
were thickly lined with spectators, and every other
accessible eminence, from which good view could
be obtained, was not this occasion neglected A
large number of little boats dotted the river, and the
Joe johnson steamer gave holiness to the scene
when like leviathan, she came putting and blow
ing, and throwing up the water among this school Of
smaller fishes. Her decks, upper and lower were
wedged and crowded with people; and never before
were SO many mortals assembled near and on the Po-
tomac. The surrounding countryside woods arrayed
in the variegated vesture of flags stream
ing 10 the gentle breeze-gave beauty TO the picture,
and relieved, in degree, the general impotence
for the denouement.
II was said that the launch would take place at
four o'clock and many who had forgotten to make
allowance for probable disappointment as to time,
looked aDxiously to see the soop leave the house in
which she had been pent up for sixteen months; but
there she was, high and dry, and would not bulge
1t required much preparation, all things had to be in
order before she could take her walk Her skirt of
copper neatly made and the skilful painter had
placed upon her black spencer, and milk-whte
sash around her bends, tied at the stern. Soon,
however, the sturdy shipwrights commenced their
work in earnest the blows from their heavy ham,
mers seeming to keep quick time to the sweeter tones
of the Marine Band and at five o'clock she started,
amidst the sounds of cannon music and the hurrahs
Of the multitude. She threw aside, in fragments,
the bed on which she had lain inert, and entered as
familiarIy swan the bright water, which, from the
reflection of the suns declining rays resembled liquid
silver Little boats and bg-among them the Falcon,
La Belle, and Teaser clubs-went up 10 congratulate
her, the music from the musicians pipe the lannon's
mouth, and the human throat the while continuing.
Captain Aulick, the Commandant of the Yard,
after the launch, entertained with a sumptuous col
lation, large number of ladies and gentlemen :.
among whom were the heads Of Department, the
foreign Minister'S officers Of the army and navy and
the Mayor of Washington. The company received
and responded with enthusiasm, to a toast from the
Secretary of the Navy: 1.-THE officers and mechanics
of the Washington Navy Yard " sentiment GER
ainIy well deserved after what had previously been
witnessed.
Curiosity was now satisfed--and the launch af
forded pleasant topic Of conversation TO the graied
spectators the way to their homes.