The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-13

sity of respecting the rights of the South, and
ceasing their warfare against our Institutions
~ o. Della.
Correspondence cfte Commercial .4drertser.
On BOARD THE STEAMSHIP GEORGIA.,
December 23l, 1850. !
We are approaching Chogres, where we shall
probably arrive some time this evening; aud those
Of US on board bound for CALIFORNIA have the
pleasant prospect of spending Christmas day IN a
canoe the Chagres river. am not going,
however, to describe the passage of the slhmIs
in advance, nor to describe voyage at sea: the
latter has been done ten, with its coDcom-
itants of the pitching and rolling Of the vessel, and
consequent sea sickness of the passengers, that it
would be out as twIce-tod tale. For myself, IL
is sufficient to sly that il has been very pleasant
voyage, though at times somewhat rough, and
that have not been affected by any sea sickness
whatever. Having told you then what my object
is not, will say what it Island that is, to speak
word in commentator Of the Georgia, and her
commander and officers.
That the Georgia is noble vessel, with ample
accommodations for multitude of passengers,
is well known, and does not need to be repeated;
but those who have enjoyed these advantages do
not fully appreciate them until about 10 be de-
prived of them. Thus it was with those Of our
passengers who transferred at Havana TO
the steamer Pacific for New Orleans. Now the
ltCiNC IL Hllt NeSSSl OF lSUu IONS capacity, one
of the swiftest afoat, and commanded by Captain
Jarvis, 10 name whom is sufficient, and yet be-
cause the passengers left such boat as the Geor-
gia, they grumbled at the Pacific, calling her a
little thing. The fact is the Georgia is large and
roomy, with such arpe accommodations, that
smaller vessels, although admirably furnished and
commanded, are seen at great disadvantage.
Captain Porter, too, who commands the Georgia,
is unanimously conceded to be prince among
captains, and exers himself continually to please
and crafty his passengers, "unbounded success"
attending his efforts as well as those Of his subor-
dinates.
If there be anything to complain of, it is, as
expressed by one Of the passengers, that they are
too clean, for the scrubbing and washing of
the decks, &C., interferes somewhat with the con-
venence Of those who would rather spend the ear
iy morning on deck, than in their beds. This, if
fault, is one Of which few will complain. The
Indies. whom we had compagnons du poyage, as
far as Havana, unanimously declared their inten
ton to select the Georgia for their next trip at
sea, and this speaks volumes for the ship, its of
hcers and management. | cannot better advise
those who are about to travel this route than re-
commend them to go by the Georgia.
A voyage by this line also gives to the passen-
ger an opportunity ofvisting Havana and seeing
somewhat of that famed city, and its celebrated
Ohio is steamship, and her rig is precisely what
is required for a coasting vessel never more than
FIVE or six days ut sea, and in no danger of get
ting short offue. If were going to make long
voyage In her, where economy of fuel was all OBJ
ject, 1 should rig her differently.
"The leak and the water that proved nearly ia
tai, were not detected, we understand, until the
fires were almost extinguisbed by the rising Good
under the furnaces"
Is the captain bound to inform his passengers
whenever he detects anything wrong on board
his ship | knew Of the leak hours before COM
municated it any one. | was reluctant to alarm
the passengers, and, if it had not required their
services, two-thirds of them would not have
known the ship had leaked tall. iii
60 A vessel like the Ohio was kept anoat and
brought into port after she had been so strained
to break two three Of the 'hog braces, by the
efficient of four ash buckets, or in other words
bailed out" &c.
With regard to the :" hog braces" we were all
deceived-none were broken-and if all had been,
it was a matter of little importance. These 4" hog
braces" are extra tastenings, with which but few
shipsare provided. Relating the FASH buckets, -
they did us good service, certainly; and, in the
handling of them, no man worked harder than
yourself; but you appear to have forgotten that
large number of passengers were faithfully and
constantly working at the pumps, TO which we
were quite much indebted as to the ash
buckets" These pumps were out of order,
except when choked with coal dust; then a few
minutes sufliced TO draw the boxes ard clesr
them, wher they were again at work. Well do 1
recoect the music of their clater throughout the
long, long nights and days of our suffering. An
unwillIngness to discourage you all, who were do
ing your best to free the ship from water with the
rude implements put into your hands, alone pre-
vented my informing you that had far more con
6dence in the service of the pumps, than in your
:" ash buckets
No one appreciates more highly than do the
services OF our gallant friend, General Howard !;
but the General must do me the credit to admit
thof tha f,rt ha L.,
carried out efficiently, came from me- and If
the General ever issued general order on board
my ship, dsbanding his forces, can only say he
forgot, for the first and only time, what was due
to me as captain of the ship. pledge you my
honor never heard of this general order until
rend it in your published account.
Mr.. Reverdy Johnson's kind and considerate
department toward me, | can never forget; and
do not believe he ever said told him the ship
would go down in two hours. | declare, most
emphatically that never said so-and, that
never thought so.
Amer the gale was over, one Of the engineers
rot the chief engineer-did say, in reply to play
ful question proposed 10 him, that one time he
would not give twenty-five cents for the ship. As
TO his fear with regard to the machinery 4" dash
ing out The ribs and sides OF the ship" every en-
glneer denies having expressed any such appre-
hensop, and do not think there is Of them
silly enough to entertain for moment any notion
! again repeat, Mr.. Mayer, that make this re-
loinder with no unkindIy ferlng towards you
and now that you have had time To allay, in some
measure, the very natural excitement under which
you were laborlng Mt tie lime you published that
account, If you will take the trouble to examine
it carefully think you will admit that there is a
good deal Of exaggeraion in all the details grow
ihe out Of scanty and incorrect information fur
nished you by others. The Ohio is expected TO
be ready for sea by the 96lh inst. After all 81 e
has gone through, have greater confidence and
take greater pride in her than ever. hope some
time to have you with me, when you will feel
compelled to admit that you have done Injustice
to as fine ship as ever aoated
am, very truly, your friend
JAS. FiNDLAY SCHENCK, Lieut.. U.S.N.
Commanding steamship, Ohio,
BRAHrz MAYER, esq, Baltimore.
LETTER FROM BRANTZ MAYER, ESQ.
BALTIMORE, Jan. IL, 1851
To JAMES FINDLAY ScmENcK, ESQ,