Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-01-30
Celebrated American Frigatcs.

We perceive that Commodore Skinner
chiet OF the Bureau Of Construction. recon-
nrends III his reporl To the Secretary OF The
Navy, that the trIsate 'Unled SIaes, bull
IN the year 1897, the Constitution and Con
stelaIIon, buIlt IN the same year, he nU
longer titIed for sea service. The Commo-
dore says: Their great age readers extern
sIve repairs frequently necessary: moreover.
their dimensions and ariiianents are Tar III
ierIor 10 modern frsales 0t IheIr class. The
bureau would, theretJre, suggest that these
distinguished ships, that have borne our flag
galleuIiy lor more tIIau half Il century, lie
returned To the ports tom whence they were
launc:led, he preserved III commission as re-
ceivIu; ships, and memenloes Of brilliant
achievements.
We regret the necessity which compel 5
this recommendation OF the able Chief Of The
Bureau of Construction. The country will
he sorry 10 part with The Constitution whose
repeated aud glorious victories have made
her 50 justly dear 10 every American heart.
The Constitution iamIlIarly known in
the service as "Old IronSideS, was the first
American vessel which broke the spell OF
BRUSH invincibilny upon the ocean. For
thirty years before that event, Great Britain
had never lost trisate in anything like an
equal conflict wlIli any nation on earth. Al
tie commencement OF the late war, our own
navy was small, aud very natural appIehen-
suus were entertained by our cnunIrymen,
of The results otan encounter with The pow
ertul al;i tr!uml plant naval arm OF The mis-
lre,s of the seas. 1t was reserved 10 the FRI.
gate Constitution, under the command OF the
Intrepid Hull, TO dI>pel the prestige oil BRUSH
success, and TO commence career Of naval
victories such as have made the American
Navy renowned through The world. Ou the
l9lh of September, 1872, occurred The menl-
orable action between the Constitution and
the Guerrlere, one of the best irlgates Of the
British Navy, and which had been securing
the seas III search of fight, having gwen a
challenge 10 all American irigales. The
'Guerrirre' carried flag al her mast-head
with her name Inscribed upon il, 10y way ot
gasconade, in immense letters.
As the Constitution bore down upon her
she kept up an immense fire, which tie Con-
stItutiou did not return 10y a single gun, until
her commander had brought her up 10 The
very teeth of his enemy, when he gave the
word, and, in the language OF Il graphic mar
r>ror of The event, never was any firing Sc
dreadful. For fifteen minutes the vivid
lighlnim. of the CONSTITUTIONS guns conlin.
ued in one blaze, and the thunder roared
with scarce an IutermisscH. In thirty
minutes uiter Hull had laid her along side
her foe, the Gurr.ere surrendered, aad had
not a spar slunding, aud her hull above and
below wafer was so shattered that lew
more broadsides must have carried her down
/ The Constitution was so lItlle Injured that
She made ready for action when vessel
appeared in sight the next day. The Cur
rlere lost fifteen killed aud sixty-tlree
wounded the Cons titulion, seven killed and
seven wounded. Such was the first hrIlllunl
chapter in the naval triumps OF the United
States in the late war with Great Britain.
The 'Constuution,' under the command o
the gallant Balnbridge, fought another mos
remarkable action with the splendid Brltlsl
tr,gate Java, OH the 29th OF December. Til.
Java was commanded by Capt. Lambert, F.,
meritorlous and experienced officer, (wh,
was killed during the action and had o,
board one hundred supernunerary seamen
destined for tie East India service, besides i
lieutenant general and other officers. The
Java was obslinalely fought. but the Con
stIution' was once more the victor. SO Ter
ribly did she injure her adversary, that II wa'
found impossible to bring the Java into port
AMI she was destroyed on the following day
Her loss was sixty killed, and upwards
one hundred wounded, while the Consti'u
lions loss was only nine killed and twenty
| five wounded.