The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-28

Navy DErAarMrNr, Feb. Is, Ii

ject Of interest to the Naval Committee of the
House of Representatives., and one. in my judg-
ment, of great importance for the consideration OF
Congress- the arrival of the Ericsson, in the Poto
mac, of the port of Alexandria. This vessel pre-
sents the first exhibition of the application OF the
new caloric engine invented by Captain John
Ericsson, gentleman whose genius has enabled
him to secure to the naval and mercantile marine
of country the most valuable auxiliary power
in the navigation of ships that has yet been fur
nished to the world-a power which is destined
hereafter to become of universal application in the
driving OF machinery, whether on land or sea.
The ingenious inventor of the engine by which this
power is developed has applied to it the study and
labor OF many years, and has at length produced
result in the vessel now in this vicinity, which is
eminently entitled to be regarded as the greatest
achievement of mechanical science known to our
age
The Ericsson left New York on Wednesday, the
18th instant, on her voyage to the Potomac, which
was fortunately attended by such tempestuous
weather put to the severest test her perform
| ance and power of endurance. Her success in this
her first trip has surpassed even the expectations
of her constructor. The papers accompanying this
letter will furnish in detail full information Of the
incidents OF her passage. After seventy three
hours of continuous progress she reached the mouth
OF the Potomac, where ow-storm attended by
thick haze, rendered it necessary to make short
delay, and then proceeded up the river to AIexan.
dria, where she arrived the evening of the 2lst
She is now abreast of that port open to the inspec.
ton of the public. e
She has been already visited by many officers of
| the Government and by persons skilled in naval
construction and the nature of machinery, and has
ELECTED the most favorable opinions of those best
capable of forming judgment upon her qualities.
feel myself authorized to say that the appro5a-
ton these visits have excited is of such character
| as to leave room to doubt the complete success
of the inventor in the splendid enterprise to which
he has so long and so assiduously addressed his
genius.
| 1t will be seen from the papers have submitted
with this communication that on the 18th of Jam
uary last Captain Ericsson confident at that time
OF this prosperous result, made through his agent
proposal to this Department to build two frigates
of the largest class for the use of the Government
which should be equipped with his caloric engine
| and should be able to attain speed of ten knots
an hour, with consumption of coal not exceeding
eight tons to the twenty-four hours, for the per-
formance of which conditions he was willing to
give satisfactory security, and at the same time TO
guarantee that the engine should be as durable as
that of the best steamships. This Department,
having strong confidence in the ability of Cap.
tain Ericsson to accomplish all that he promised
invited him to order the vessel round to this ciy
or it's neighborhood, feeling assured that the vow
age hither would furnish the best means of putting
her capacity to trial that would fully determine
the question OF her adaptation to the service of
navigation. His prompt compliance with this re-
quest has not only vindicated his own intrepid
conviction of his success, but has also established
the unquestonable certainty of a grand exploit,
which is to be long celebrated hereafter as the
commencement of new era in the history of
great inventions.
In recognition of this anticipated triumph and
with view to express the qualification of this De-
partment at the alacrity with which Captain
Ericsson accepted the invitation to place his vessel
under the eye of the Government, the letter of the
14th instant, which will be found amongst the
papers now exhibited, was written. That letter
did not reach Captain Ericsson until his arrival in
| this city 1t fortunately happened that he had
himself invited distinguished officer of the navy,
Commander Sands, to accompany him on the
voyage, and this Department taking advantage
of that fact, has committed to Commander Sands
the special duty of making report upon the per-
formance and passage of the vessel. That report
| has been made, and, together with another from
Captain Ericsson. who has kindly placed himself
in an official relation with the Department to
authorize it, submitted to the perusaI
the committee, and through them to the House
of Representatives.
letter from Captain Ericsson, of the oath
instant, acknowledges the previous communica.
ton of this Department, and repeats the offer
originally made by his agent on the 18th of Jan
uary. to undertake to furnish the Government
with two frgates on the terms first proposed
Being convinced that this visit of the Ericsson
is an event of sufficient magnitude and moment to
authorize it, respectfully beg leave to submit to
the deliberation of the committee the propriey and
importance of commencing to Congress the imme.
date adoption of this great invention for the use
of the navy, and the passage of a resolution to d
rect the Secretary of the Navy forthwith to make
contract with Captain Ericsson for the construc.
ton, under the superintendent of the Depart
ment, of one Ericsson frigate of not less two thou
sand tons, to be equipped with caloric engines of
sufficient power, as ship of war; and for this
purpose to appropriate the sum OF five hundred
thousand dollars. am convinced that the expert.
ment indicated in this measure would result in
future determination to introduce the caIoric en-
CINE generally into the naval service under cir.
cumstances and conditions which will prove it to
be the most effective, useful, and economical power
that mas ever yet been applied to nav igation. The
probability, indeed the certainty, of future i'm.
Provements in this engine would commend the
restriction of the contract at the present moment
to one frgate. whilst the appreciation which is due
to this most significant invention from the Govern
ment could not be more becomingly expressed
than in the prompt recognition of it's value by an
act of Congress. | therefore most cordially re-
commend the subject to the early attention of the
committee, and to the favorable notice of the House
of Representatives.
have the honor to be, very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
JOHN P. KENNEDY.
Hon. F. P. STANTON, Chairman Committee Naval
Affairs, House of Representatives.
WAsHINaToN, january 49, 1853.
SIR: Captain John Ericsson, of the city of New
York, civil and mechanical engineer, and John b.
Kltchlng, Of that city, merchant, have authorized
me, for them and on their behalf, to propose TO
construct for the Government of the United States
two or more ships of war, each of about twenty
1--we hundred tons burden, to be propelled by esEr
lessons caloric engines
First. These ships shall be built of the best ma
terlals, and in manner to be approved Of by your
Department.
Seconds Two caloric engines shall be placed in
each ship capable of propeng it ten miles an hour