Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-01-15

mable benefit on mankind.
The Ericsson was put under caloric early on
Tuesday morning, and started from Williams
burg between and 10 o'clock. At 9 h. SIS IN.
she passed the flagstaff on Governors Island,
and at 10 h. sc N. and 30 seconds she was
abreast Fort Diamond, thus making distance of
seven and three-eighths miles in thirty-four min
utes and thirty seconds. From thence she pro-
eeeded down the bay, rounded to below Spit
head buoy at IL h. 81 M, and there anchored in
consequence of a snow squall. She returned on
Wednesday, and anchored off the Battery at 2
o'clock in the afternoon. The distance between
the stated points on Governors Island and Fort
Diamond being accurately known by trapgula-
ton to be seven miles six hundred and sixty
yards, the speed attained was as stated about
fourteen miles an hour The consumption CT
fuel Is ascertained 10 be only SIX English tons per
twenty Jour hours, s saving, as compared with
steamships, of more than eighty per cent. As
the ship draws I6 feet 10 inches on an even keel,
this performance at first trial has astonshed all
concerned in the enterprise.
The great idea which had for moro than TWEEN
ty years been ripening III the brain of the in
ventor, but which from the incredulity and OPP
position he encountered among men of capital in
his own native country, in England, and in Amer
ica he had been unable to realize, has thus been
substantiated real entity. It was fortunate
for Captain Ericsson and for the world that one
OF our enterprisng merchants, John u. Kitching,
Esq, who appreciated and relied on his talent
and genius, determined at all risks to enable
him to make the experiment on scale worthy of
the magnitude of the issue. For this purpose
the latter furnished half of the capital necessary
for the enterprise, and disposed among his ac-
quaintances Of the remainder of the stock. By
this means, and regardless of expense, The clip.
per ship those first performance we have recor.
ded was bllt at the yard Of Perrine, Patterson
" tnH ~,
loric principle under the immediate direction and
supervision of Captain Ericsson. The vessel
measures 260 feet in length of deck, and 40 feet
in breadth of beam; her depth of hold is 27 feet,
and her burden 200 tons. Like the Arabia.
the Cunard line. she has but two masts, and like
our swiftest clippers, she is extremity sharp in
the prov. She has no fgure-head Her stern
presents the device of two figures, allegorcal
representations of the United States and Great
Britain placing wreath around the brow of the
inventor She had been originally named the
Caloric, but in compliment to the genius who
planned her, her name was changed to the Erics-
son. This was considered by Captain Ericsson
high tribute to himself, but the flattering de-
vice which was placed upon the stern without
his knowledge overwhelmed him with emotion,
and we told that when he first saw it he wept.
like child. The Ericsson presents very hand
some and unique appearance, from the four white
tunnels which rise some ten or twelve feet over
the promenade deck, and which somewhat re-
semble Ionic pillars without the capital. They
are thirty inches in diameter and are supported
by octs gon pedestals, also white Two of these
columns, or pipes, carry off the air from the en-
CINE, and the other two serve as chimneys.-
Around their tops they are ornamented with gilt
rings and mouldings. These gilt ornaments are
now, after ten days firing, perfectly bright
Entering the spar-deck, the absence of any crank
matches, aud clear~deck for two hundred feet
on each side Of the deck. house, attract the eye.
The bsrth-deck likewise presents an unbroken
line, with state rooms along the entire ship, and
passages between the fore and aft saloons on
both sides.
AS a model of naval architecture, there is not
vessel ID our splendid merchant marine that can
compete with the Ericsson for graceful proper
tons and symmetry of build. All who have
seen her concur in the expression of admiration
of this beautiful Ship and in their opinion Of her
superiuf sailing qualities, independent of any aid
from her machinery.
For obvious reasons those interested in the
undertaking have observed great caution and
Jealousy to prevent any knowledge of the con-
struction Of her machinery, &C., from getting
abroad. To guard against this, portions of it
were made at various places-New York, Phila-
delphla, West Point, &c.-from plans and speci-
tications furnished by the inventor. So perfect
and true were his calculations, that every piece
of the machinery thus made fitted in with the ut
most exactitude so that, to give the language
OF one OF the persons engaged i'll it, sheet of
tissue paper could not be put in between the
joints. This circumstance, in itself, speaks we'll
for the great engineering skill of its constructor
The same jealous caution was observed in per-
mlttlng strangers on board. The exclusion of
all outsiders has been very rigidly enforced, so
that the hundreds whose curiosity brought
them to visit her were forced to content them
selves with distant inspection. Thus, up to the
present time, no correct description of her has
appeared in type; and we therefore feel confident
that that which We now present to our readers
III relation to this remark able vessel will be read
with an interest proportionate to the invention,
of which the Ericsson is the first embodiment
Let the reader, therefore, accompany us as we
are chaperoned throughout the ship by her gal
lant and polite commander, Capt A.. B. Lowbar.
to whose ability and experience as navigator
she has been we'll confded.
Let me first show you, says our guide, the
freight deck, and then we will ascend and ex-
anime her in detail. To the freight deck,
therefore, we descended, and were pointed out
Its capacity, extending as it does some 260 feet.
1t is entirely free of obstruction of every kind,
excepting only space along the middle, which
contains the cylinders, enclosed within strong
bulkheads. None of its room is to be devoted,
as In steamers, to the carrying of coal, which is
slowed away in sufficient quantity each side OF
the engine. 1t is calculated thus to carry l,40O
tons of tsas, or other light merchandise; or, if
engaged a the Australia c. California trade, it
is well adapted for accommodating some four or
five hundred passengers ventator new
principle and connected with the machinery,
extends to this deck. About midships there is
a sort of square enclosure, which, we learned
communicate only with the main deck, and
which has been fitted up for the female servants
of cabin passengers This is great improve
ment ON the present plan, which makes little or
no provision for this class of travellers. We
found this room neatly and comfortably furnish
ed, with twelve or fourteen berths, and con-
veniences for bandboxes and the various ct cete-
ras of waiting women.
From the freight deck we ascend by wide