The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-21

All this assistance was given by our Irish friends
in the war ofthe revolution. Unnecessary, we might
state other instances of their devotion to the cause
of American Independence. We could point to the
names of three Irshmen, who, in common with
the rest of the sgners of the Declaration OF Inde-
pendenoe, "pledged their lives their liberty, and
their sacred honor" in sustaining the great cause
in which they embarked, or perishing in its fai-
lure. There are but few patriots now living who
participated in our revolutionary struggle. They
almost all gradually receded from our sight, but
the few who still remain among us, can bear
witness of the trials and sufferings Of their COM
peers during that memorable period OF our his
tory.
We might come nearer to the present day, and
point to tho services Of Commodore McDonough,
who demolished British feet on the lakes, dur
ing the war OF lSl2-to those of Bakeny, who,
after achieving glorious victory over a foe equal
in strength, sunk beneath the waves, while tow
ing his prize into port; and to those of Jackson,
who, although born on American soil, was al
most as much an Irishman as if he first opened
his eyes in that country.
1t is not necessary, however, Tor US to 90 deeper
into the subject. We have given proof SUFFICIENT
TO show that in the day of need and in the day of
trial, when the American horizon WA overhung
with dark and portentous clouds, the Irish, both
here and at home, contributed literally, by their
blood and by their means, towards establishing
the free institutions under which we live and
prosper; and by the influence of which we have
risen from colony of three millions to nation Of
twenty.
Apart from our duty as a christian people
J~l l..s A.
ieve the distressed, we are bound in common
justice to relieve, in the hour of adversely those
who relieved and assisted us in the time Of our
need.
In conclusion, we trust to have the pleasure Of
soon recording the benevolent acts of the people
of this city in relieving the Irish. They have for
hundreds Of years been compelled to drink from
the chalice Of tyranny and monarchical oppres
sion. They have resisted all attempts to be de-
nationalised, while their rights have been wrung
from them one by one They have survived all
the tortures that man can inflict but now the
hand of God is upon hem, and they are sorely
grieved With our assistance they may survive
the blow-without it they perish.
Our duty, as a christian people, as republic
can people, is clear. Will we perform it?
STEAM SHIP BUILDING AT PIrrsBuRa-IRoN YES
Sells OF WAR, &c.-We learn from our CORES.
pendent at Pitisburg, that the iron steam frigate
Allegheny, now on the stocks at that place, will
be ready to launch in February next. She is a
beautiful and finely proportioned vessel, moulded
with view to great strength and speed, ll50 tons
burthen, 1873 feet entire length, "a feet beam and
10 feet hold (; her armament will consist of four
pivot guns, GO Founders, and 81 Founders She
is to be propelled by It. Hunters side or horizon
tai wheels, with an engine of 400 horse power
the rigging will be that of bark. She is entirely
built OF iron, except the main deck and finish of
the cabin. The ward room, steerage and captains
cabin will occupy the after part of the usually
called berth deck, leaving the whole upper or
main deck entirely flush from stem to stern; the
bulwarks, which are Off iron, are 90 constructed
that in moments notice they can be removed
in order to facilitate the working of the pivot guns;
the boilers have been built with the hull. This
vessel, we understand is the last that will be con-
structed Of iron at all events for the government,
their inefficiency in actual service having been
satisfactorily ascertained. For mail steamer or
surveying vessel she will be unequaled. There
is also in the same yard an exceedingly fine steam
cutter $50 TONS feet deck and 26fset beam,
to be called the Robert Walker, which will be
launched with the Allegheny She will be sup
piled with the ordinary side paddle wheels and an
armament of one pivot gun and four small shift
ers /; her rig will resemble a schooner, but with
three masts. She is entirely of iron, and as beau
tifully modelled vessel as any now afloat-as
sharp an adz
Gas LIaRrs AND NO LIcBrs.-The citizens OF
New York, after all, will bear about as much in
the way of the imposition Of high taxes for small
comforts as any people in this country. And no
set OF men ever seemingly learned this PECULIAR
ty of our citizens more thoroughly, or practised
upon it more cleverly, than the companies who
pretend to supply the city with gas lights.
The uncertain Pickering fame which at times
laborously issues from the burners in the lower
districts of the city, is hardly less annoying
than the entire extinction (which occasionally
takes place, leaving thousands in situation as
little Gale ulated 10 make them even tempered, as
almost any situation one can well imagine
Some large establishments, where great deal
of light is required, suffer vastly, both in ex-
pense and convenience, by the evil, which
ought to be cured, wherever its source may
be. The manager Of the Park Theatre is
subject to heavy expen for camphene, which
he is obliged to supply his house with, on account
of the frequent failures of the gas lights. Oar
own tax for SPERM candles is more than we are
willing patiently to submit to. No class, probably,
feels the inconvenience of the difficulty of
which we complain more seriously than the
publishers Of morning newspapers. Good light
is unnecessary to our compositors, rs heat is to
the smith. But Notwithstanding all the inconve.
nience to which tho patrons of the gas compa-
MES are subjected, they have to pay enormously
dear for their miserable whistle. In Phladel-
phia, constant supply of gas light is afforded
at one-third the price per cubic foot which
we have to pay. Surely, if the Philadelphia
company can afford to furnish light at 66 per cent
lower than our companies, we ought to have the
certainty OF supply. On the night OF the arrival
of the Presidents message, the lights in Office
failed several times, and in onelnstance we were
left in total darkness.