The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-07-09
ch;u. No. of Constructor s WI,
guns. name. '''o'' p"i''
*Mounts 68-pounders throughout.
fScre1c Of t,co blades, raised at pLeas,4

IoCTelc OF tlcO OLddeS, RAISED al pleasure.
A squadron thus composed, of such different
elements, and of ships of the newest and most
various models, was well calculated to attract the
attention of naval men in this transition era of
marine affairs; for it designed not only to as
certain which was the superior among the sailing
frigates, but to make comparison between the
steamers, and also between the best steamer and
the best sailing ship. The Prince Regent whose
qualities had been carefully ascertained in the
fleet of Admiral Parker, was selected as STAN
dard of comparison; and on the 5th of November
this squadron went to sea from Lisbon on an ex-
perimental cruise.
For several days after getting into blue water
moderate breeze favored the preliminary trials of
sailing, and excited the highest degree of interest,
enthusiasm and vcxation among the crews, each
seaman being wrapt up, heart and soul, in the for
tune of his ship.
The first trial gave the following result:
|. Pheton.
.. Arethusa.
3. Leander
arrogant, a tic with the Leander)
a. Prince Regent.
S. Dauntless.
8. Encounter.
committee, presided over by the Commodore,
marked upon skeleton chart the position of the
ships at starting, and at the moment of displaying
the signal to end the contest. The speed of each
ship by Massey's log was telegraphed every half
hour; these and all other particulars being care
fully recorded to be sent to the Admiralty.
The PhBton, as is noted above, was first in the
race; the Arethusa second, at times even leading
the PhBton. These two ships were SO far superior
to the rest to make it clear that the question of
superiority must be decided between them; and in
comparing their performance with that of the
standard ship-the Prince Regent-there was no
difficulty in coming to the conclusion that they
were the fastest ships in the navy.
The trial in moderate weather having been con-
cludcd, it was necessary to wait for gale--whch
is never long vanly expected in those seas at that
season-for the next trial was to test the spars
and rigging, the stability and other qualities of
the ships in heavy weather. The breeze, after
holding all day from the northward and eastward,
hauled at night to the southwest, freshening to a
gale; and in the morning shifted suddenly to the
northwest, with heavy squalls and rain The wca-
Their now becoming favorable to the new series of
experiments, the commodore made preporotion
accordingly.
The squadron was "by the wind under
sscourses and dot,be-reeed opsoHs, :" when the sig
nal was made to carry all possible sail. Immedi-
ately reef was "turned out" and 'stopgallant-
sail sct' At first the Arethusa attracted all eyes
by her extreme stiffness, and the holiness with
which she carried press of canvass which seemed
to bury the other ships, several of which were al
ready handing their light sails, and soon none but
those of the Pheton and Arethusa remained to bid
defiance to the storm, and to fix all admiration on
those two splendid ships, which in this trial, as in
the former, displayed their eminent superiority.
Scarcely were the sbolines hauled" when a
black wet squall, which had been for some time
threatening, is seen rapidly approaching, whiten-
ing the sea before it; and while every man was
anxious for the safety of his own ship under such
staggering sail, the question, nevertheless, in