The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-09-10
NIateriel of the United States Navy.


lst Line Of battle ships-total, IL.
On the stocks. d.
Condition. Not one in that state Of repair proper
for service The seven in the water all require
2nd lst class frigatos, including the razee indie
pendence- total, ID.
On the stocks e
In commission, (abrosd,) 4.
In course of repair and equipment, g.
[Ofthe two others one is unfit for repairs I
Sd Second class Enthusiastically unfit for repairs,
Constellation.
The Macedonian is altered 20 a razee
4th. Shops Of war-total, II.
In commission. Cat sea- Is.
Three unfit and worn out. (Warren, Ontario
and Fairfield.
9Th. Briggs and schooners-total. A.
Small ana Old All in commission or in course of
equipment.
STEAMSHIPS.
LIST. Frigates-Mississippi, 10 guns
Susquehanna, . do
Powbatan, y do
San Jacnto, 6 do
Saranac6 do
Princeton, 10 do
All in commission, or rapidly preparing for SER
The Powhatan, Jacinto and Princeton are new !:
the first and third untred. The San Jacinto, from
all accounts is q total failure. The Saranac has
made cruize, and proved a dull ship and great
consumer Of coal
I'd Three small steamers-the Michigan, Con the
Iakes,) Fulton and Allegheny with the Union,
nothipg-and the steam navy IL recorded.
Scarce fifty really effective guns.
1t may be proper to remark, that within the last
twenty years the few steamers Of the first class have
been added to the navy, and some ten or twelve Of
the sloops of war. So few ships have been built,
it fair to suppose that naval architects have not
had the opportunity to make useful experiments, to
keep pace with the improvements constantly going
on in the commercial marine, and particularly of
late, while the magnificent clipper ships have been
created and, by their wonderful performances, have
outstripped even steam.
From the foregoing meagre list of the nate,id of
our navy, it would seem clearly and eminently
proper for Congress to appropriate judicousy, and
cause an increase Of ships, both steam and Others,
Of the most improved models, and in the most
modern and heaviest ordnance
But even were the materiei in efficient condition,
and commensurate with the interests of tho couu-
try, how stands the personnel!
The difficulties Of procuring seamen to man our
ships is but too apparent. Does not the Japnn
expedition, and other ships equipping for ordinary
service only, lnger in our ports for lack of good
men! And how will it be in emergencies, if
one half Of the chips of the navy 10 repair,
and occasion called tor immediate equipment, men
could not be found to man theml
The following may be classed as some of the
objections Plugging has been prohibited-for
good or for evil II is not necessary to say-and to
this was no substitute whatever offered. The pay
Of seamen in the navy is below the standard
adopted for the commercial marine Many good
men, disguised With the state of discipline board
our national ships, since noggng was abolished,
have ahjnred the navy. and, by hundreds, have
gone to Halifax to enter the navy of England
These facts well authenticated. We have no
apprer tice system either in the navy or commercial
marine, ard no steps taken by Congress to improve
the condition of the weather beaten, careless but
generous good hearted sailor. With ordinary care
and wholesome laws, that is re why we may
not effect Iadical change in the prospects aad
comforts of poor Jack
The marine corps, as a. present organized is toe
sudden emergencies, and should be enlarged. The
whole navy mataid and personnel, wants over.
hauling; and heavy responsibility rests on Con-
gress; and if they adjourn without giving the
cessary means to improve this important branch Of
the government, the people will hold them to
strict accountability.
We want large increase of steamships, with
twenty heavy Loops of war, and large, active,
efficient briggs Our heavy line Of battle ships should,
several Of them, be cut down, and heavy frigates
made Of them, and accommodated to the most
effective and improved naval ordnance. Give us
law for apprentices in the merchant service, and re-
wise that formerly existing in the navy.