The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-07-09

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The LeanAer.
The following criticism appears in good-tem
pered account Of visit to this ship, published
few days ago in the Home Journal.
"This solid specimen-chunk of the wooden
walls Of Old England is frigate considerably
larger than any in the American navy She carries
50guns and her complement of men is 500 Itisonly
four years since she was launched, as we are as
sured by one of her officers; but, to Judge nom
her model and build, we should conclude thai she
must have been on the stocks since the Datue OF
Trafalgar Her bows very broad ana round'
and her stern is broad and bulgy: Ihere is noun
ing of symmetry in her composition; nor nave her
sides that finished and clean look to which the
American eve is accustomed The seams not
STRAIGHT. and the timbers are not smooth. We
have compared her to a chunk, but the captain
and crew of the boat Catherine Hayes, by whose
assistance we got on board the Leander, expressed
his opinion of her model by shorter word, and that
word was tub. In justice to the Leander, We
must add that the captain and crew of the Cathe-
rine Hayes consisted only of one boy. 1t is also
to be borne i'll mind that the Leander, in spite of
her alleged tubtude, made the passage from Eng
land in thirty DAYS, which is shorter than the
rage"
We can well understand that in the proportions
presented by this ''chunk of the wooden walls of
Old England" there is much to dsplease the eye
accustomed to dwell on the graceful lines of our
river craft or the more full-blown beauties of our
bic that the intelligent officer directed by the head
of the Navy Department to look at the ''chunk "
found those same ..broad and bulgy" forms most
eloquent, speaking language not only worth re-
porting, but to be pondered. We imagine they
may have addressed him thus: ''This broad
round bow, you understand, not only gives to the
chunk fine roOmy forecastle for fighting pivot
gun and handling her steering sails, but in the
chase-and she s no SLOUGH, as her run from Eng
land clearly shows-she has the advantage of a
line of fire directly ahead; nay, she can, at the
distance of half cable 8 length, cross her fire;
and the beauty of her 'broad and bulgy stern will
be best appreciated the first time waspish steamer
takes up raking position under it, in the hope OF
having quiet time while she batters in the dead
lights and cripples 'the rudder.'" And since
the character of our visitor is not unquestioned,
we think it would be ungenerous in not to say
that at home she was considered highly respecta-
Bile, and that we have seen her in good society.
Notwithstanding the great attention given in
England to the perfection Of their steamers, the
government has of late years pursued with the
utmost ardor every means of developing the high
est sailing qualities Of their frigates; and the
results have been most interesting and advan-
tageous.
To this end, the British Admiralty body of
men only less well-abused than our own bureau
ohcers-with an ever-watchtul eye to British in
terests, and never slumbering devotion to the
efficiency of their fleet, assembled in Lisbon bay
III 1901, i, under Commodore Martin, an expert
mental squadron, composed of some of their finest
and newest ships. And here it may be well to
state fact little known appreciated, that upon
the shores OF this bay, SO close to Plymouth, SO
central as point of rendezvous, so convenient
for descent upon the French coast, and so ia
vorable for reinforcing the Mediterranean OF
West India stations, the British have established
depots and erected workshops, and for ten o.
twelve years past have awaited themselves of it
placid waters and blue skies, so favorable for al
sorts of naval evolution and gun practice to cul
tivate to the very highest degree of perfection ,
large force.
But our pen has almost us out of sight Of
the squadron of Commodore Martin, to which w.
now return. 1t was composed as follows: