The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-25


and 90 feet hold.
This steamer possesses a spar or nnsh deck which is
regarded Of great and decided superiority from the actual
which have boon made by order of the
mralty, in the Of circular or pivot guns.
Thus il is that the best authority in England
appro res OF the " flush deck" The assertion that
not of the United States mail steamers il it 10
carry such battery as that used on board the
United States steamer Susquehanna,* il unjustifa
BILE and unjust ] will challenge q comparison with
miniature models of the mail steamers of the Col
Inns line and the navy steamers; and ! will even
agree that the Investigation be conducted by naval
constructors solely who shall decide upon the struc
ture and fitness of the mail steamers for vessels Of
war. Several Of our most eminent naval construc-
tors, who have from time to time inspected the mail
steamers during their construction, have expressed
themselves satisfied hspoint. The attack upon the
machinery of the mail steamers as being unusually
exposed to the shot might have some influence upon
those who know but little Of the English and Anne
rican mail steamers: but il will be waste of effort
upon any who knows that the engines of every
one Of the Cunarders-tour-fhs of all the royal
West India steamers, including all the new ones
arc of the description known as the sidc-ever, and
in general features the same the Collins engines,
and all equally exposed 10 shot, as the shafts of
all padde-whecs must be elevated as high as their
centres.
'.Fair Play next makes the modest assertion
that the Collins steamers have accomplished
thing but defea. and failure !! and that, +" in con-
sequence OF reckless expenditure and mismanage-
ment, they now in n state of bankruptcy" This
~
that an unwilngncss the part Of the proprietors
to suffer loss Of hundreds Of thousands of dollars
in national cause constitutes bankruptcy. Such
language (slanderous and false as it is) needs
no comment: it speaks for itself | will only
say that he does not award TO the Collins line
the credit which is freely and voluntarily grant
ed by the Cunardcrs themselves; and the gene
raj intelligence Of America must be greatly under
rated to suppose that such rabid expressions, and
from an anonymous scribbler, will have any other
influence than 10 prove the malicious hostility of
Fair Play Regarding the injury which he says
will result to the sailing packets. this question we
Will leave to the decision of our commercial mCr-
chants, to say whether they choose to have the
steaming business entirely monopolizcd by the En-
glish, shared by the Americans and will leave to
their decision whether as long as they are to have
steam competition, they do not desire the American
steamers to occupy the same relative position to the
English. as our sailing packets do to theirs
"Fair Play treats in ridcule the idea that the
support Of the Collins line is national question
True Americans do not require any instruction on
this point; and if they should will here give the
language ofMr. Cunard himself, before committee
OF the House OF Commons, in July, lSi9:-' was
most anxious to have it (the extension Of the con-
tracD done, because ! knew the consequences of
having these rival lines Of steamers running against
rs, and that it would affect the government more
than it would us.''
1t is expressed by "Fair Play'' that Congress
should not pay the Collins line any more for carrying
the mails than other steamers are willing to carry
them for This portion Of the communication will
leave to the members Of Congress and citizens gener
aly-whether they will not give more to have their
mails carried by class Of steamers which are are
credit to nation, and an exponent of the ability
Of our shipbuilders and engineers, than they will
give to steamers that shall follow the English in
stead ofleading them Any one acquainted with
the subject knows that to attain great speed the
vessels must be of large dimensions and have great
power: and it is selfevident that such steamers must
be much more expensive in their construction,
equipment. consumption of Goals, pay of officers,
fhon clo afa tnn nnO-f hir1c
in size.
The next assertion is. "that the construction of
the Collins steamers in reference to their easy con-
version into war steamers. has been entirely over
looked
As "Fair Play is 60 anti American, will here
quote an eminent English authority, respecting the
identical vessels he assails. The extract is taken
from the Liverpool Mercury Of the LIST Of August
1851. The occasion the entertainment of a
large party Of gentleman at Liverpool board the
American packet-ship Great Western, commanded
by Captain Sherman. and the remarks made by
the justly celebrated ship builder, Mr. Wilson
Green, in acknowledgment Of the toast, 'sThe
Liverpool Ship builders"
After speaking Of ship building generally and what
could be done in America he said the Americans had adj
yantages which did not possess in England and it
must be ack nowedged that their ships amongst the
noblest specimens Of naval architecture and could not be
ryaed lie thought however. that If in Liverpool
had the advantages which they had in America. might
compete with them. lie would say they should beat
us. but wous first have a trial lie would say thi.
that in almost everything connected with ships the
Americans were leading (IIcar. hear THEW had
class Of steamers which here FROM the United States
Now. as ship builder and acquainted with building
large steamers he did not hesitate say there
finer better tut vessels than these American
Iear, hear) The Atlantic had sustained succession
Of gales which few ships could wttood and
when .he examined in the dry dock at this port there
was not the slightest appearance Of any strain She
hibited what he never before IL well known
that invariably settled about FIVE inches but
the Atlantic did not vary an inch and half (Iear.
hear There not frgae in the British navy that
the copper but there was not the slightest abrasion
the Atlantic.
Last season had the pleasure of spending several
months in Europe, where an opportunity wasaforded
me of visiting all the principal p-yards. engine
works, and steamers in Great Britain, and, as an
American. confess myself highly grati6ed at the
many complimentary expressions which were frankly
and literally made by the most eminent ship and
engine builders in favor Of our mail steamers and
were it not that this article is already too long,
would gladly give these Acknowledgements in detail
Several OF the parties engaged in the construction of
the famous Cunard steamers, admitted the necessity
OF deviation from their old beaten track before
they could compete with us.
] shall ever hold in kind remembrance the many
courteses received from our friendly rivals, and
will close this article by expressing the belief that
if the Americans held the Collins steamers in the
same estimation do their rivals oil necessary sup
port from government would be cheerfully granted
+. w. SMITH,
experimenting Engineer to the
New 1ork, Southampton, and Bremen
United States Mail Steamers.
New YORK, March Is, 1852
N. B-The ships Of the Collins line have not only
been built in accordance with the specification fur
nished to the Secretary of the Navy approved of by
his board OF constructors and under the inspection
of naval constructor. which specification forms part
OF the contract, but their strength vastly increased
beyond what would have met fully the specification,
and more than equal in strength to any Of our naval
steamers.
As Fair Play; dwells so much the cost Of the
Collins steamers beg leave here to mention. while
speaking Of the Susquehanna that she without her
guns S692000; while the Collins steamers-nearly one
third larger and with forty per cent powercost
100000 each.
FROST IN GEORGIA.-The SaUdnnah R6pnbtican
OF the Goth instant says There considerable frost
in the vicinity Of the city this morning though gardeners
seem to be Of the opinion that II would but little il
any injury to vegetation In higher stitudes-say in
the middle and upper counties Of the State-tbefe is
reason to fear that the fruit trees have suffered very
much The weather is stll cold and indicates another
frost tonight scvcrer than that Of this morning.
Weekly Report Of Deaths