The republic., 1851-01-29
TIL e r EP u BLIC.
From the London Nautica, Standard and Steam
Navigation Gazette.
Shfp Building In England.

claims to be classed, that OF creative genius,
even OF an initiative animal does not belong TO him.
As n creator OF great works of art, he ranks very
low indeed in the category OF nations; an imita
tor OF the monuments of other people, he is lower
still II he tries his hand at something grandiose,
he Ia sure to make bungle OF II; and when nc re-
solves 10 copy some great master one may predict,
with every chance Of certainty, that he spoil j.,
by introducing what he calls some improvements
OF his own. Churches, palaces, ships, every thing
he undertakes, meet with the same fate, and are
spoiled by his Improvements. Had John Bull been
in the place Of the Chinese tailor, who, on being
provided with nankeen to make dozen pair OF
trousers, returned them, patched in front and
darned behind, because the pattern which had been
given him by the unlucky officer had met with
some accidents from wear and tear, and had been
mended in several places, John Bull would have
improved the appearance OF the garment by darns
and patches all over. Now the Chinaman was, as
all his countrymen are, an initiative genius; he
copied exactly what to him mode he
not told that these defects the results of acci
dent, the fault not his, but the unfortunate fell
lows that entrusted him with his cloth. But our
friend here would have increased those defects,
and consequently weuld have spoiled the trousers
much more than his nanesake OF the east.
II is SO with US, leaving alone the innumerable
churches which have been unrcmediably bongled,
the two or three houses misnaned palaces which
dsfigure London, the few monuments raised to
the memory of great or little men, who have
honored or dishonored their rank or their coun
try, the statues erected to commemorate their good
bad deeds-leaving all those alone disgraceful
samples of bad taste, which will pass to posterity
as specimens of the creative or initiative folly OF
their forefathers, we come now 10 our skill in
naval architecture. Fortune of war, and the
bravery of our seamen, had placed in our hands
several noble ships OF admirable form and pro-
portions. many French and Spanish line. of battle
ships, constructed by the celebrated. Sane and the
master mind of Tupinier, who, during the changes
Of fourteen ministries, remained at the head OF all
naval INSTRUCTIONS III France, and endowed his
country with moro great works OF art relative to
ne M
nation, many ships OF these admirable naval
architects fell into our possession; they were al
most all new ships, and would have been OF the
greatest service as models Tor our own builders,
but, by incredible infatuation, they were all
broken up or left to perish under one pretence or
another, and solitary one, the Canopu, is lett OF
all the trophies Of our naval glory. to attest Of our
folly and prove our inferiority chip builders.
The Canopu has been more than fifty years
aioat, and is as efficient man oi-war as any in
the service. She has furnished with model
that VIC have never been able to follow, much lcss
toilnitate. All the vessels built from her have more
or less, deviaieu from her FORM and none have
| swered SO well as her, The few good frigates we
possess arc clumsy copies of foreign models, and,
what is most extraordinary, is the fact that we
indebted for the best to private yard. and not to
government builder architect.
The influence that Government ship building ey
erciaes over commercial enterprise s much greater
than is generally allowed by moot people man
of-war is pattern for merchantmen, or at least
should be so, it, it is the interest Of the shipowncr
to get quick return for the money invested, he must
| feel that quick return can be had only by quick
voyages and, il his ship can perform in four m5nths
what another does in six, he will have three voy
ages III the year instead OF two. Merchants, too, will
aways favor and order their goods u be carried by
a last ship, and fast ship ID to be maize only by
adopting the lines, and adhcripg the form of a
man -of-war. We are, with few fortunate excsp.
tions, behind almost every nation in ship building
for commercial purposes. Il is true, We have clip
| pers in yachts, and some few ANAL craft, some
! handsome schooners, cutters, and brig two,
as well few noble lndiamen, but in the inter
mediate classes we are poor indeed. The Ameri.
cans are our superors, even where thought
TO excel-ther vessels not like ours; water wag-
CONS made to carry much as they can, and per-
form their journey how they can, Brother Jonathan
has been wise enough to perceive that 1000 tons OF
freight at E6 make = ,OG0, and 1900 tons at "a
make only E4,S00. That besides the 10000 could
be got in seven eight months, at less cost than
the $500 could be bad in year; and proftng by
his wisdom, he has chosen the frat alternative. and
has left John Bull to pick up the second, and to be
| contented with his lcavings.
] The Americans have taken the field, and it will
be for us 10 Ike care that they do not
hut things are not now as they used TO be- we
have not only the Americans to fear--another con-
current for the spoils of England 10 now in the
market, and perhaps where we least expected il.
The French have, OF late, been building large and
! beautiful ships for the Indian and Pacific trade :;
vessels of very large dimensions the stock
at LIE Havro, Nantes, Bordeaux, and other ports Of
France Several have just been finished, and are
admired by all competent judges as perfect speci-
mems of commercial ship building. Several of
! these ships from 200 TO 500 tonS Here we
| zee nation, who, two years ago. did not possess
vessel above 100 tons, now constructing some Of
500; and why does she do that Certainly not for
trading with her own colonies ships of three or
four hundred tons are already too large for that
and remain a Ions time taking cargo i is to trade
with India end taEe freight Tor England this ia
the avowed and publicly expressed dntenton-thisi is
what the owners propose TO do, and will do, too il
| ne pre skt II.
iul builders, and we not at all astonished that
these vessels should b, superior ours because they
are built as near as posS,S,s the form and lines
~ thelf Irigates which are mostly perfect models
II ia thatvery perfection which we fear, and which
we must attainii we do not wish 10 see their flag
predominant in our waters,
Another very serious confederation for ship
| owneFs, which must make them reflect in time,
is, that slow progress of canalizaton which has
been going the continent, and binds together,
| by joining them the uttcrnost parts of several
empires, which will, ine few days, join the Black
sea to lie Havre, by system Of river water course,
which ramites, and will make of that port the
shipping and landing. place OF most parts of the
continent. This magnificent water way, which will
be very shortly opened to the internal commerce Of
Europe, runs through four oI lhe richest and most
productive departments of France, Joins the river
Aarne TO the Rhine. and ia nearly 200 miles
long, with a fall of sos feet, and service of
$50 locks. BY the Marine IL Joins the Rhine 10
the Seine and lie Havrc. In Germany it leads from
the Rhine TO the Danube, and the Black sea by
the canal made by Louis of Bavaria 1t opens
Tor France successful concurrence with tie water
ways and communications of Belgium and Hol-
land 10 the sea and there be doubt that
the results for all countries lateral to that gigantic
undertaking, will profit by the facilities afforded
for the expectation of their productions, and The
importatiops of foreign goods Moreover. passing
as It does through y country Astounding in mineral
wealth, IL may at no remote period interfere
largely with our mineral exports, not only TO
France but TO other countries. The solicitude of
the several governments which have 20 yapidy
succeeded each other IN Fraaco, has never for a
moment le. this great system lie dormant. and five
millions sterling spent already for the object OF
eanalization, leave but about more wanted
to finish the complete raIniiication of the net
The arrvalof the Franklin at Cowcs on the ,7tl
instant, and next day to lie Hav-e, with valuable
cargo, has pro torto taken away already several
thnusand tons Of goods, which were formerly di.
rectcd annually on Liverpool for shipment to the
United States; and the establishment Of that line
will be very serious loss to the companies which
before enjoyed that monopoly, and carsc of great