New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-09-19
Correspondence of the Baltimore SUM-
---"7- q. y. HAJTIIE-kJ IITI NEhhH,
HAMPTON ROADS, September 8.

U. s. PRAcrIcE-SHIP PREBLE,
HAMPTON ROADS, September 8.
This ship arrived here to-day, in twenty-one
DAYS from Madeira. She sailed from the Capes
Of Virginia on the 18th Of June, and has been
absent sixty-nine days, during which period
she visited Plymouth and Portsmouth, in Eng
land, Sherbourg and Brest in France, and Fun
chal, Madeira I wrote you from England,
promising to give you my impression as to what
thought of England and France, but not having
had an opportunity of landing on either shore,
| must confine myselfto what saw afoat. The
two ports visited in England are two great
naval depots, yet but little activity is exhibited
at either place, the whole force OF that country
being absent in the East.
While living off Spithead, we had the honor of
seeing Her Majesty Queen Victoria, as she
passed near the ship, on board one of her
pleasure yachts. We had fine view Of Her
Majesty, and saluted her with twenty one guns,
! which was acknowledged by the engine Of the
vessel being checked during the firing Of the
salute.
Though the active force Of the British navy is
absent, engaged in a war, yet enough is left at
home to convince us that our little navy is still
in its infancy and what adds more to throw us
| in the background is, that while we stick to
sailing vessels, the English consider no vessel
completely efficient that has not steam as an
auxiliary propelling power
| Sherbourg and Brest, IN France, are also
large and complete stations for the construction
of naval ships, yet but few vessels are now at
the dock yards in commission.
At Madeira we had a run on shore, and spent
a fine time, riding over the island and enjoying
the society and hospitality of the Portngese
ladies. .-e@
| / informed you in my previous communiea-
ton that this was my first cruise in vessel Of
war, and at that time had seen nothing tc
cause me to dislike the naval service My
opinion remains unchanged, though l thins
there is some law required to enable the com
manding officer to punish the offences commit.
ted by the lawless portion of his crew, for bac
men will be found on board of all vessels. On'
, drawback upon us was the small number OF oul
crew; for, out of the thirty-sx acting mid
, shipmen who were on board for instruction, bu
very few of them had ever been to sea before
consequently they were of but little service
when heavy weather or heavy work requires
the efficiency of all. If these young gentlemen
7 do not make good officers, efficient navigator
and thorough sailors, it will be their faults, an
not the faults of the officers to whose car
r and instructions they have been committed TO
i no pains or labor has been spared to give Their
all information required in their profession
: Would that had had their opportunities whe
, | was boy. If SO, should not now be a lore
j, mast man.
: When about three hundred miles to tn
n southwark of Bermuda we had quite a gal
n from the southwark, making the ship very W
e pleasant and disagreeable to all
:, | learn that it is the intention of the CON
e manding officer to spend some time in exercisr
II the young gentleman in the bay previous to r.
turning to the Naval School at Annapolis.
BALTIMORE.