Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-13
American ships FOR the Gar.

COPENHAGEN, June 1S.--About two years ago
Danish naval officer, Captain Meller, went to New
York as agent for the Russian Government, to en-
gage American ship-builders to send in drawings
and plans, as the Gar intended having a number
Of large ships of war built in the United States.
Among others, Captain M@ller applied TO the emf
nent ship-owner and builder, Mr.. Vanderbilt, who
induced by the hopes Of pocketng few millions
Of the Cars spare roubes resolved TO go over to
st. Petersburgh himself, and pay his personal res
poets to the Emperor. This led TO the famous ex-
pedition Of the North Star, which Mr.. Vanderbilt
fitted out as private yacht and in which, as will
be in the recollection Of your readers, he visited
in the company Of select number Of friends not
only st. Petersburgh and the north Of Europe but
made a cruise up the Mediterranean, and proceed.
ed as far as Constantinople before pturning to
America. tt.
Mr.. Vanderbilts speculation turned out how
ever as far he was concerned, to be an unfortu-
nate one, for, on arriving at St. Petersburgh, he
was dryly informed that the Russian Admiralty
only intended TO enter into contracts for screw
steamers.
As soon as Captain Moeller heard that Mr.. Van
derbilt had not succeeded in making a contract
with the Russian government, he applied to anoth-
or New York shipbuilder, whose name i send you
in confidence, and made him similar offers. This
gentleman Immediately went to St. Petersburgh In
u
with better success, for in six weeks he returned
with a contract in his pocket for a screw s4-gun
ship Of the first class. The keel Of this vessel
was laid in the presence Of three Russian naval
officers, who had previously been sent 10 the Uni
| ted States for that and other business, and the
ship Is now being completed.
| According TO the conditions Of the contract,
the ship-buildcr engaged TO deliver the vessel
fully rugged, coppered, and equipped-with the
exception Of the guns--free at Cronstadt in the
course Of this summer, and is moreover bound to
load her with timber, ready cut and prepared, ne
cessary to build second vessel Of the same class
and similar size, TO be put together in the Russian
arsensls. AkNH't
The price stipulated for the S4-gm ship is s40,.
| 900 dollars-being just at the rate Of 10000 dol
lars per gun, Of which 100000 dollars were paid
when the keel was laid down, and 10000 dollars
| have been lately paid in bills on London and Am
sterdam. The other half Of the purchase sum, az
well as the amount Of the timber for the second
ship, is TO be paid on the delivery Of the vessel al
| Cronstadt.
| How the contractor proposes TO elude the vigi
| lance Of the British feet now In the Baltic--and
by the last accounts actually blockading Constadt
/ -is unknown. However easily he may succeed IN
| mystifying the British consul in America, and ipa
| king him believe her TO be common merchant
| ship, there Is every reason TO hope and believe
that the British naval officers in the Baltic win moi
be so easily deceived, and that Brother Jonathan
win not be able to chucklo at having been !" toe
| wide awake for the Britishers,p as in the case
the Mimic rifles and the revolyers landed this spring
| at Baltish Port from the American ship Sammy
Appleton, as shown up by your correspondent Al
Mcneil AT all events, this communication may
have the good effect of serving to put the British
consuls abroad and the government at home or
their guard, and induce them to keep good look
out 90 az not 10 permit this vessel to slip through
their fingers, and become in time formidable an
tsgonist.'