The republic., 1851-02-17
The screw Fleet OF tho N.vx.

1t is under this title that Captain HALsrED,
of the Royal Navy, has published volume
dedicated to the First Lord of the Admiralty,
intended to illustrate the merits and advantages
of Screw Propulsion. In brief, they may be
thus described: The absence of all impediment
to the full armed broadside; the fact that the
screw ship is fully furnished and independent
sailing ship; the economy Of using sail-power
or steam-power at option; and the employment
of steam machinery under the water-line, and
out of the reach of an enemy's shot. Such
are the advantages of this mode Of propulsion,
now universally recognised in the European
navies, and beginning to be understood and ap-
preciated in our own. That they have not
been long since properly estimated must be at
tributed to the prejudice which assails every nov
city. II is now eight years since the Princeton
first solved the problem of screw propulsion for
ocean navigation. The celebrated Mr.. STEVENS,
of fHobokcn, had entertained theidea, and had re-
duced it to successful practice in ferry boat on
the Hudson river many years ago. In the
form and principle of the propeller there has
been no important or material change since his
day but for the successful practical applica-
tion of the instrument in this country to ocean
uses the sole credit is due to Captain ERIcssoN,
the constructor of the steam machinery of the
Princeton. This is the need awarded to him
by the scientific world--the only tribunal COM
petent to settle questions of scientific import.
In his annual report for l849, from the Blu
reau of Construction, Commodore SKINNER
recommended that a. steamer should be built to
supply the place of the propeller Princeton, and
receive her efficient and valuable machinery
This recommendation was not acted upon at
the last session of Congress, and was re-
| newed by Commodore SKINNER in his report
of 1850, with the suggestion additional that the
frgate Sabine, on the stocks at New York, and
the Santee, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
should be fitted with propellers and suitable
steam machinery. The Bureau also recon-
mends the addition to the navy of auxiliary pro-
peller steamers, inasmuch as they possess de-
cided advantage over ships dependent upon
wind alone for their movements. -
BY modes Of arrangement recently introduced
the propeller may be applied to ships already
built without mutilating their stern or impair
ing their sailing qualities. We hope, there
fore, that the recommendations of the Bureau
of Construction may meet with favorable con-
sideration, and that measures may be adopted
to enable us to meet the state Of things now
rapidly approaching, when ship for naval
purposes, propelled by the power Of wind alone,
will be regarded as the most obsolete Of obsolete
| IDEAS Full steamers. or full sailinp sbips with
auxiliary steam power, will be in few years
the only naval vessels afioat.
| Mark the progress Of the revolution in navi-
CATION. 1t is now fifteen years since this sub
ject was brought before the Lords Of the British
Admiralty by Captain Ericsson, and failed to
attract any favorable notice from their lordships
Sir WILLIAM SMoNDs, chief constructor Of the
British navy, remarked upon it that, seven ii
the propeller had the power of propelling a
vessel, it would be found altogether useless in
! practice"