Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-29
Dimensions Of the Napoleon.

She is supplied with eight boilers each having five fur
naces; and at full speed, which is about twelve knots,
consumes hundred and two tons Of coal per diem
The boilers and machinery take in the length Of the
hold eightytwo feet, which, for nominal power Of
1,00O-horse, is considered excessive.
The results OF the trial or the Napoleon have sufficient
ly established the fact Of the practcabity Of % adapt
ing propeller to ship of the largest class to
great speed, and form most effective man-ofw for
certain purposes and in certain situations but when the
great weight of the engines and coal is considered and
the great space they necessarily occupy in the vessel
hereby diminishing the stowage of provisions and
ter and when further reflect that after the coal is
expended the ninety ship has only the spars and sails
of sixty-gun ship to rely upon, forced to the
conclusion that however useful such vessel may be
short passages and in those where her supply of
coal and provisions may be constantly repenshed yet
that her sphere Of action must be very limited and that
she could not be relied upon for the long cruises and
rous service which ordinary lineofbate ship is
employed.
ship constructed on the model of the Napoleon for
the sake Of gaining aspeed of ten twelve knots per
hour for the distance of about 400 miles, is compelled
to sacrifice great part Of her efficiency several other
most important particulars.
In time Of war; at short distances from port for the
defence Of harbors and bays the Florida channel and
for the general purpose Of defending coast to force
blockade, or for the speedy transport of troops to ad
jacent territory, such vessel would undoubtedly be
most valuable acquisition to navy but her employ
ment must necessarily be confined to such situations and
circumstances for should she be unucky enough to fall
in with hostile squadron with her coal expended, or
with her machinery rendered useless by any of the
accidents to which steam machinery is constantly
exposed, with her comparatively light rig and her want
of stability the consequence Of losing great weight
1.l-- Ar.-
tagnist and it is much to be feared that she would be
compelled to strike to any vessel of her class that should
attack her
In France and England the question of adapting pro-
pelers to their menowar already existing particularly
to neofbate ships has excited the deepest interest
and has been discussed in oil its bearings In both
tries great efforts have been made ascertain how this
adaptation could be effected at the least expense without
injury to the sailing qualities and capacities of the ships
and to discover the best general plan for the necessary
alterations.
After series Of the most careful trials, made at the
naval station Of Rochefor il was found that there were
insurmountabe objections to placing an engine Of $50
horse power board hundred.gun ship It was then
determined to try the experiment with the Austerz
ene Of the class, then the stocks at
Cherbourg but after the maturest consideration the
structors and engineers were compelled decide that
this could not be done under any reasonable conditions
that it would be necessary to cut her in and enghen
her oor that her stern must be taken down and rebut
and that, after ALL these great and expensive alteration
promised no satisfactory result.
In consequence of the unfavorabe report Of the officers
upon this subject the Minister Of Marine directed that
engine Of 500horse power should be substituted for
that Of 650horse power which it had been intended to
place board the Austerlitz in order to ascertain IT,
with this lesspowerul engine, and without any reduc
tion in her battery, spars, other equipment
possible to attain speed Of not less than Al knots
der steam.
The attempt has been made to execute the order OF the
Minister the stern Of the ship has been entirely rebuilt
with the addition ofa trunk" or SWELL y at the cost
During my visit to the dockyards understood that or
ders had been given complete La BreSgns
Le Turenne Le Tourvle, lie Duquene and four other
class ships, then the stocks.