The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-12

The clipper ships OF New York, &c.
TO IHE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD.
The readers OF the lie, aid, particularly that class
OF our citizens whose "home is on the deep" mus
have been very much gratihed of late in the peru
dation and eulogy of the sharp and beautiful yes
sells that have recently arrived at and departed
from the port of New York. No less have their
feel ngs been warmly enlisted in favor of such of
the "race horse" fleet as have been, and are to
be, committed to their appropriate element from the
shpyaIds of the commercial metropolis and other
ports of the United States No one has ever doubt
ed denied that Brother Jonathan is q fast spec-
men of the genus homo, remarkably persevering
and indomtable Ego ahead" sort of a person, and a
very successful one too, in the accomplishment of
anything he takes into his head. 1t matters little
what he undertakes to do, what its cost magnitude
or the difficulties TO be encountered and overcome;
these are no bar to his progress, check 10 the
impetus OF his resstless energy, which knows not
the word impossible, if he only takes the notion.
| True perfection may not be reached at the first
trial, perhaps not for several or many succeeding
Ones but il is attained at last; when, with sauci
peculiar TO the confidence of his own ability,
| he invites opposition, and detes the world
Ii has been matter Of notoriety, that for several
centuries Great Britain has claimed that she was
''mistress OF the seas" Without stopping to in
quire into the merits of her pretenslons or feeling
| the slightest wish TO disturb her convictions upon
| this very important assumption, it may neverihe-
less be limited, with as much delcacy truth, that
the master is gre alter than the MISTRESS and that,
hence forth, Britannia must follow in the wake of
| Jonathan's clipper fleet
Those who read the newspapers with attention,
cannot have failed TO observe, that the recent ar
nval OF the American clipper ship Oriental in the
| Thames, after passage Of SO days from Hong
Kong, China, has created no little sensation among
the merchants and shipouilders Of Queen Vietorias
| dominions. And il is not at all to be wondered at
| thu they should be in no small degree startled by
the appearance of 80 beautiful and swift sailing
| specimen OF marine architecture. We know that
she was visited by great numbers Of the people,
and very keenly examined by such Of them pro-
fessed TO comprehend the symmetry of her proper
lions, and thus TO understand how desirable 1t
would be to dispute her superiority in any way.
| Consequently, In the usual bluff style of mother
Bull, an English shipbulder has boldly declared,
that if a carte blanche be but given him, he will
| construct ship that shall " fog" the ORIENTAL, in
| all weathers, and on every point of sailing. We
don't admire the choice OF the word fog" be-
cause II not only sounds harsh in Jonathan's ears,
| but acts very decided provocative upon his
sibiines, i'm determining him to say, IN reply
should like TO see you try it," The opportunity
may be afforded this confident shipbuilder of test
ing his skill in the science oil naval architecture
much sooner than he contemplated; nor will our
architects shrink from the contest, though all Eu-
rope were to throw down the gauntlet Of defiance
We have always looked upon a tine ship with
feelings OF the strongest admiration and well re-
member the delight experienced in our younger
days, IN repeatedly examining with more than or
dinary interest, every clipper ship that came into
the harbor of Charlestoa, 5. q. The FIRST in our
memory was the Charles and Henry, small Am
| sttrdam trader not more than 300 tons, but very
sharp and symmetrical, and very fast sailer.
There then appeared three of the prettiest British
| clippers that we have ever beheld, the Corsair,
Mafmion, and Lalla Rookh, each about 100 tons,
| aud all Of them uncommonly handsome vessels.
| Losing sight Of these, We cannot recolleci seeing
| another real clipper ship, until some few years
| ago, the Ann Mckim, OF Baltimore, was pointed
| out TO US. There then appeared the Montauk,
Houqua, Sea Witch and rainbow, and, about
three years ago, the Memnon, and Samuel Russell.
Arriving In the harbor Of San Francisco, IN Sept,
1919, we there saw the Architect Grey Eagle
nd all nj Ra hpfu ppn
and GOO tons burthen, and each having the peculiar
appearance OF the sharp vessels buiii in that city
The sc three ships may be regarded as the pioneers
| OF the California and East India fleet, now num-
bering 80 ships, sill of The sharpes build and
particularly constructed for very swift progress
through the water.
Within the past year. and very recently, there
have been launched from the ship yards OF New
York, Boston, lPortsmouth, &c:, some Of the
| aTgeet and most magnificent Clipper ships that have
ever floated on salt water. These are, the Alert,
Eclipse, Eternal, Celestial, Gazele, White Squali,
Black Squall, Stag Hound, Mandarin, Wltchcraft,
Sea Serpent, Sea Nymph, Surprise, Game Cock,
| lno, and Reindeer; and, TO be launched, the Fly
| ing Cloud, Joseph Bell, Racer, ard several more
not yet named. Differing in size from 500 to 800
tons burthen, these arc, without exception, most
extraordinary collection OF vessels. IA tne'r con-
struciion, we doubt not, the design Of their build
ers IS go to mould them, as 10 secure the great
| sennal OF fast sailing. How this quality is best
| secured, becomes, however, an open question,
when We find their models so essentially different.
Varying in length. breadth, depth, and other pro-
portions, no two OF them present any striking
semblance, except II be in sharpness fore aud aft;
and in this respect they all agree though in some
the water line from the fore channe The steln is
straight, 10 others convex, but in most Of them
| concaye. Why any sea. going vessel should be
constructed with this hollow bow, at all, is ques-
ton not easily answered; al all events, we have no
Partially Tor II, and do not believe il TO be the best
form forspeed. Straight, or slightly convex lines
are, in our Judgment, much 10 be preferred; for
L longer nd thp
water DIVIDED with less momentum Of Resistance.
VI the entire number OF these clippers, which of
them shall experience prove 10 be the fastest sailer,
on bowlne," or freel Here we have ques-
ton oil the deepest interest to their owners, build
ere, and commanders. Ii Is not al all likely that
every one OF them Will come up TO the expectations
formed, either Of her stability swiftness for in
dependent Of the fern Of The hull. a great deal de-
ponds upon masIng, slowsge, trin, and the skilful
handling OF the vessel.
Theory has done much for shil building, but it
will do vast deal more, II founded on the basis OF
| experiment and observation. But how shall the
| test be applied in demonstrating the qualities Of
each OF these clipper chips named in this actice
We presume that each Of their captains fail not 10
Try their craft by the wind or free" ia all kinds
| OF weather; nay, that they press them with as
| much canvass as they will bear, TO force them
through the water with maximum velocity Nor
VIII the trial be without lis value; but il fails In
| determining the relative qualities Of each shin by
a comparison Of her swiftness and stability with
other SHIPS, at the same time and under the same
circumstances Aud such is the trial we should
like TO see made, IN proof Of the superiority OF one
form over another for swift sailing and by which il
can be determined that one form or model com.
bines The greater number Of essential qualities. IL
ls by experimental cruises only that the respective
merits OF these clippers be satsfac torily ascer
tanned IL is by such cruises that the valuable ex
refence OF the captain and his officers IL made of
Rfeet interest TO The constructor in noting the good
aud bad qualities 81 their ship, as these may de-
pene ON trim, bal asst sails, the disposition OF masts
and yards &e tor they may and do affect her sail.
ing; IL may be fairly assumed that the builder ot
each one of the clipper fleet made swiftness the first
essentlal IN hIs design model Yet some of these
| ships will very much outsail others, were they
tired together we suggest Let them be tried
then, by sending two or more TO sea on an experl.
/ mental cruise oi week. We shall in this way
| soon find out the hest mould for passing through