Washington telegraph., 1851-02-05
Celebrated AmerIr.l Frlgalra.

Richmond Republican, will be read with
interest.
We perceive that Commodore Skinner
Chief OF the Bureau OF Construction, re.
commends, in his report 10 the Secretary
of the Navy that the itigale United
States, built in the year l7g7, the Con.
stitutlon aud Constellation, built in the
SAME year. be no longer lifted for sea
service. The Commodore says. "fheir
great age rendcrs extensive repairs ire.
qnenlly necessary moreover their dimen.
sious and armament are fur inferior to
modern ltigules OF their elass, The bu.
teau would, therefore, suggest that these
distinguished ships, that have borne our
flag gallaaIly ior more than half a century,
be returned to tho ports from whence
they were launched, be preserved in eom.
mission as receiving ships, aud memeHtops
oi brilliant achievements,
We regret the necessity which eompels
THIS recommendation oi the ablu Chic.
OF the Bureau oi Construction. The
country viii be sorry To part with these
veteran champions OF her honor upon the
deep, aud especially with the CousIlu.
ton, whose repeated aud glorious victories
have made her SO justly dear 10 every
American heart.
Tho Constitution, iamiliarly known in
the service as "o.d lfoasides. was the
first American vessel which broke the
spell OF British invneibilily upon the
ofean. Tor thirty years beiofe that event,
Great Britain had never lost ifigulo IN
any thing like an equal conflict with ANY
nation OF the earth. At tile commence.
ment Of the late war our own navy was
small. aud very natural appfeheusions
were entertained by our eunn,fymcn Of
the results OF an encounter with the
powerful and ,numphan. naval arm OF
the mistress OF the seas.
IL was reserved lo the ltigata Gonzlitu.
ton. under the command OF thu intrepid
Hull, n dlspcl the prestige Of BRUSH
success. aud to commences a career OF
uaaal victories such a. haFe made the
American navy renowned through the
world. On the 18Th September, 1912.
occurred the memorable action between
lhe Constitution aud Guerrero, ole oi
the best insa,cs Jl the british navy, aud
which had been securing The seas in
search Of lighi, having gwen ehailcugc
TO all American irgales. The .Guemcrs'
carried a dag at hct masthead with he:
name inscribed upon It, b. way OF gas.
eonade. IN immense letters. A. the Con.
siituiion bore down upon her she kep, up
an incessant ire. which tie Constitution
did not return 10y single gun, until her
commander had brought her up to the
very teeth Of his enemy. when he gave
the word. and. in the language ol
gtanhie narrator VI lh1 event. "Nvrr
was any firing 80 dreadful. For fifteen
minutes the vivid tightening OF the Con.
stilullon's guns continued IN one blaze,
aud their thunder roafrd with scarce az
intermission." In thirty aller Hull had
Land her alongside her Toe, the Gueuicre
surrendered, and had not spar standing.
aud nef nun above and below water was
so shattered that lew more broadsdcs
must have carried her down. The Con.
stiiu,ion was so little injured that she
made ready for action when n vessel aI.
peared ia sight the aexi day. The Guel.
riefe lost fifteen killed aud sixty three
wounded. SucE was the hrst hul.iuut
chapter IN the naval tnumphs OF the
United States in the late war with Great
Britain.
The Constitution, under the command
Of the gallan, Bainhridgr, fought another
most remarkable action with the splendid
British irigaie Java. on the 29Ih OF De.
cember The Java was commanded by
Capt. Lambert, a mcritorous aud cxpefi.
cnrel officer who was killed during the
action, ard had on board hundred
supcuumcpy scamcn, destined ior the
EasI India service, besides lieutenant
general aud other officers. Tic Java
was obsIInatcly fought, but tho Cou.li.
tuition was once more the victor. So
terribly did she injure her adversary that
1t was found impossible to bring the Java
into port, aud she was destroyed the FOL.
lowing day. Her loss was sixty killed
and upwards OF one hlndfcd wounded.
while the Constitutions loss was only
nine killed aud twenty-five wounded.
The Constitution has been since non.
orably aud efficiently employed in the
service OF the country A proposition
was made some years since TO dismnn'lc
her, but public feeling was strong against
the proposition, preiernng that sie should
be given
"TJ the god Of storms,
The lightning sud the gale
roiher than rot in the quiet waters Of
harbor. But we fear that her time has
now come, and that she must hencelouh
rcPose npou her laurcls, a "memen,o" OF
some OF the most brilliant achievements
ever performed upon the deep. May the
constitution Of the country be as viclo.
rlous over It's enemies as has been this plo
rous vessel.
The irigatc United States. which will
accompany the Constitution IN her retire.
ment, also distinguished herself, under