The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-01
Literary Notices.


The Naval DryDoek of1he United States BY CHARLES
STUART, Engineer in Chief of the United Navy
Published by CHARLES d. NoRToS, New York, and by
john WEALE, London. l vol. quaro, illustrated with
"a fine engravings on steel.
This is truly elegant volume, and one every way
worthy of the great national works tits designed illus.
tate and explain. II will do much towards dssemina-
ting correct ideas of the magnitude and importance OF the
public works OF this country and Of the science nge-
nuiiy and skill OF our engineers, displayed in their
projection and construction, both OF which have very
generally been moderated The first and greater portion
of this work is devoted to complete history and de-
scrpon, the fullest detail OF the granite dy.dock at
Brooklyn, New York, the largest in the world, and
which, from the admirable plans and principles upon
which it is built and the many serious obstacles which
were encountered and overcome in its construction, will
remain Tor ages one OF the proudes monuments of
gineerng and mechanical skill of the nineteenth CEN
fury" The site for this dock selected and exam
med by Col. Loammi Baldwin, civil engineer in 1885,
The work was, however, not actually commenced until
1s41, and was then under the direction OF Edward H.
Courenay professor OF civil engineering the National
Academy West Point In the following year all operations
were suspended, and were recommended in 1884, pursu
ant TO an act OF Congress- and finally completed in
1881, having been excessively in charge OF General
William Gibbs Mcneil, w. P. s. Sanger, William j
McAlpne, and Charles B. Stuart by whom il was com.
pleted having been ten years in OF construction
and having cost two million hundred and hty-sx
thousand eight hundred dollars The following extracts
will afford the reader idea OF the magnitude OF this
dry dock
The pit which excavated for the foundation of the
dock covered an area OF two at the top and over
one acre at the bottom Il sunk TO the depth OF
orytwo feet in the earth, thirty feet OF which was
below mean high water, requiring the removal Of one
hundred and twelve thousand cubic yards OF earth"
Eighty thousand tons OF stone have been used in FORM
ing The foundation, supersructure and appurenances of
the dock. The masonry foundations are four hundred
feet IN leEgh and hundred and twenty feet in breadth
The chamber hundred md -u,v fea,
long, and thirty feet broad The bottoms three hundred
and seven iee long, and ninety eight feet broad the top
ing gate an additional length OF y-two feet may be OBJ.
tanned; thus making the entire length OF the dock cham
Der three hundred and fifty feet the line OF mean high
tide. The least width is a, the hollow quoine at which
point the dock is sixty eight feet wide and the leas,
depth is the miire stills, which are feet
below high.tde. The height OF the wall is ihiry-sx
The remainder OF this volume contains descriptions OF
the drydocks at Boston, Philadeph Portsmouth, PEN
sacola, Norfolk and San Francisco all of which are II.
Illustrated with engravngs Steel executed in the highest
style OF the art
II is understood that this work has been produced by
Mr. Stuart at his own expense, and cost Of upwards
OF nine thousand dollars We trust his enterprise and
public spirit will be suitably rewarded, and that the en-
coursgemen given may be such enable him to pub.
sh in similar style the history OF the rise and pro-
gtess oil steam navigation in this county, upon which he
is engaged and which possesses peculiar interest at
question Of creating and fostering efficient steam ma
rne subject which is deeply interesting TO the
whole nation.
Au,fria IN 1873 40. BY WILLIAM IL. sruKs, late caarsf
ddfairt Of the United States at Vienna. HAprrp &c
BRorHERs, New ork.
We have received copy Of these handsome volumes;
and from the cursory perusal which we have been
enabled give them, are disposed to regard them a.
presenting the most interesting and instructive account OF
recent political movements in Austria and Italy, incud-
nghe Hungarian revolution, which has yet been placed
within the reach Of the general reader in this country
Mr.. Sbles's position gave him ample opportunity to
qure accurate knowledge, and TO form just views Of the
events OF which he treats, and bis work bears ample
testimony to the ability and industry with which he has
executed this task We regret that we have neither space
nor opportunity 20 fully at this time into the Pecu
liar merits OF the work and to lay before readers some
extracts from H. which sure would be read with
pleasure and profit This will endeavor, II possible
10 do hereafter; and meantime we would commend the
volumes 10 that public attention and favor which we
have doubt their intrinsic merits will speedily attract
drcfie Searcng Erpsdition BY Sir JoHS RcHARDsoN c.
BIZ X s. New York HARPER ~ BaoTHERs (For sale
by r.. FAHSuAn)
This - journal Of boat voyage through Prospects
Land-a name given 10 the possessions OF the Hudson's
Bay Company-in search OF the discovery ships Erebus
and Terror under Sir John franklin Although unsuc-
cessul in the grea, object OF the expedition, Sir John
Richardson has not permitted it to be barren OF valuable
results His search having been prosecuted land,
and in boats he necessarily thrown among the
fious Indian tribes which inhabt the northern part of
this continent and has thus been enabled only to fur
nsh complete and interesting history OF their habits
manners customs, and languages but also TO add much