The New York herald., 1850-01-30


fornia. 1t is now presumed that the Oregon did
not leave San Francisco till the LIST instant. Our
next news fiom California will, therefore, be a
month later.
The New Steamships. ana the Secretary OF
the Navy.
We made some remarks, few days since on
the silly and foolish proposition or recommen-
dation put forward by Mr.. Ballard Preston, Sc
cretary of the Navy, in his report, regarding the
construction OF steamships for the purposes OF
government and denounced it as we thought it
deserved. His proposition was, that the system
under which the Washington, the Hermann, the
Ohio, the Georgia, the Atlantic, the Pacific, the
Arctic, the Antarctic, and several other splendid
steamships, that would confer honor on any nation
In the world, were built, should be discontinued;
and that the government should return to the old
system, under which the Misslssippi and Missouri,
two magnificent and costly failures, were con-
structed. The more We reflect on the subject, the
more convinced we are, that in making such
ridiculous proposition, Mr. Preston shows himself
70 be deplorably deficient In information on the
topic on which he wrote, and entirely unfit to
occupy the position of Secretary of the Navy OF
this great country.
We desire especially to call the attention of the
the beautiful and magnificent steamships that are
now being finished in this port for Z. X. Collins's
Liverpool hne. We allude to the Atlantic, the
Pacific, and the Artic, the last named of which
was launched on Monday morning last Those
vessels are the largest IN the world, and, if do
not make mistake, will, in all probability, be as
fast as they are large. They are being built under
the system which Mr.. Preston recommends to be
Ant.. .k.l arI =
~ to be easily converted into vessels of war for
the use Of the government. II the naval commit
ices Of both houses of Congress will look at
them, and then look at the magnificent failure,
the Missouri, which was built at an expense
Of FIVE hundred and eighy-6vs thousand dol
ars, or at the steamship Fulton, another
magnificent failure, we think they will not he
state in arriving at the conclusion that Mr..
Preston's silly recommendation should be treated
with contempt, the emanation Of a weak and
silly man. We do not know the exact cost of the
steamships composing Mr.. Collins Liverpool line,
but we understand that il will be IN the neighbor-
hood Of SIX hundred thousand dollars each. This
may appear, at first sight, very large sum but
when we reflect that these are the largest YES.
sells in the world, and that their hulls, engines
and machinery are OF the best materials 10 be
found in the country, will appear exravagant.
II II possible which is not, for the govern
ment to construct vessels equal to them In model,
speed, and excellence, they would cost each, under
the old system which Mr. Preston wishes the
country to return to, at least million Of dollars.
With a fleet Of such steamers, we would be the
greatest naval power in existence and it is appa-
rent that must have fleet OF them. great
portion Of the carrying trade Of the world will con-
oentrate IN our hands the great ship
sanal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
shall have been constructed. Almost the whole Of
fhe carrying trade VI the Pacific will be actually
forced upon us, that canal s finished, IN
consequence Of our geographical position. Such
IN extended commerce must be carried on by
steamships; and as experience has demonstrated
the utility and benefit Of a union OF government
assistance with individual enterprise, In the con-
structon Of such vessels it would be the height Of
fely to return to system winch never produced
any good, but which, on the contrary, entailed a
vast expenditure Of money to no purpose That
system has been tried, and what are the results 7
The Fulton, at an enormous cost, cannot carry
fuel enough for more than ninety miles sleaming
The Missouri was launched with a great flourish
Of trumpets, and was intended to cross the At
hntic by steam. In addition to her armament and
fuel, she was to carry two regiments OF soldiers.
What is the RESULT With the aid Of sails, she
crossed the Atlantic in tweniy.three days. and in.
stead Of being able to accommodate two egiments
Of soldiers, she could hardly find room for her
crew Of two hundred men, and could not carry a
sufhciency Of Goals for voyage to Europe
While these facts, therefore, contrasting the
comparative usefulness Of the two systems are be.
Sore us, what be thought Of a Secretary Of the
Navy who would deliberately recommend return
10 the old one, under which we have got nothing
but expense, disappointment and national dsgracei
The Missouri, il will be recollected, was de-
stroyed by fire, and il would be no loss to the
country n the same fate were TO overtake the
hississpp and the Fulton. As long, however, az
'hsy exist, they will be palpabe and rrefragable
evidence Of the stupidity and mbecllity Of the pre-
seat secretary Of the Navy; and when we cem-
pare them with the vessels which we have named, /
'hey viii be proof, just strong, of the excellence
of the new system, which that mighty minded
man says should be abolished. Such a Secretary
ef the Navy does not comprehend his duties is
behind the age, and ough, to aAdica,e a, one. Tho
position which he occupies A 6e for sueb = sec.
Ietary As long as he remains in Office. IN. anoro.
pirate committees OF the two branches Of the na
fiosal legislature attend to the naval in,er.s,.
Of the country.