The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-02

OCEAN NAIL STEAMERS.

FUf n Unfo
OCEAN NAIL STEAMERS.
M Epnoa Ny attention has lately been called to
pors made by yiscount Canning the British Parliament
ON the subject of the English ua steamers and must
confess the SGT forth by this distinguished
beman are Of such character that when comprc
hsndsd by the people Of this country, they cannot bat
sopen The eyes Of thousands who inclined TO OPP
pose entire system The report says that the formation
OF the mail contracts for the purpose Of foster
ing maritime enterprise and 10 Tho production u
superor class e aesss ehieh oud promote he convenience
and loea The country time Of peace and assist de-
tending as shores ayasna hcsfiie aggression
These zecafioas been disappointed The ocean
has rayersed with precision and regularity hitherto
deemed impossbiecommeree and civilization have been
exendcdhe colonies have been brought closely into
connection with the home governmenand Steamships haze
been constructed Of sire and porer that actthout government
aid could hardly at many years hare been produced
ave have under contract with the admiralty sixty
three mail steamers every Of which may be
converted into war steamers. The aggregate power OF
these IL twenynine thousand six hundred and
twenty hoyf power their tonnage sixy-one thousand
three hundred and forty eight they annually steam r-
lion hundred and secsntyGue thousand miles and the
aggregate amount paid by the government for mail
service performed these seves is about $4,000
0oo and all Of these vessels in their contract with the adj
miralty SUBSTANTIAL on
CONSTRUCTION srREaGTH FIT AND TO
CARRY GuS or THE LARGEST cALBRE NOW Used on BOARD
ara MAJEsrYs STEAM yEssELs-os-wARp
BY this acknowledgment it will be that each
able carry guns Of the largest cabre used board of
her Majestys steam vcssesowar and yet have many
persons who take the ground that the COLLINS line of steam
unfit for purposes when like those constructed
in Great Britain they have been built and inspected under
the supervision Of the Navy Department they themselves
appointing their constructor and finally received by
the Navy Department The question has arisen in
Great Britain whether their mail steamers fit for
purposes; SETTLED QUESTION THEY so
beg leave Mr. Editor to give you the opinion of
era officers Of distinction in navy respecting the value
of the Collins line for purposes and hope such
ray Of testimony will forever put this vexed ques
ton Commander Lynch, United States navy, in letter
published board the Arctic dated November 49, 1882
says:
passage retarded by prevalent head winds and
heavy head but while disappointed by the delay Of
few hours, could not withhold my admiration of the
weatherly qualities OF the ship Whether the wind and the
ahead abeam the quarter aern she neither
lurched plunged but cleaved through the and
sped along swaying from side to side with graceful
easy motion examined her closely and do as far as
capable Of judging consider that in strength beauty
Of construction in stability combined with buoyancy, in
dryness and in speed she snpasses any other vessena
tiona mercantile have known and have three
times before crossed the Atlantic by steam twice
manded steamers
Commodore Perry says in his letter the Secretary Of
the Navy, February l8 1852;
according 10 my calculations the cost Of the CONVEX
sion OF either the aforementioned vessels exclusive OF
ornaments repair of machinery, &C. would not or GER
anly ought not to- cost for each steamer $4,000
and II could readily be done for this a any of navy
yards With respect to the description and weight of their
respective ornaments clearly Of the opinion thai tho
frclass steamers already named could easily carry four To-
inch PaixhGn guns PivoUo forrard and irro attof
the wsgM Of those in The Msssippi and ten 8nch Pairhan
guns on TIE sids and this scould not incornn,ods
The uessels and the freight less than ne ice which is usually
forty TONS and stoned array in
In the general operations Of maritime Car they could
render good service and especially vould they Dc useful from
their great speed despatch pessels and for the trdnspoa-
Of troops alroys capable Of attack and defence Of
orerhaulng or sscaping from an enemy.
The Atlantic, Pacifc Batie and Arctic hare all been
eh inspected and received By the Nary Department.
Captain McKennon of the Royal Navy, says, in work
published by him entitled "THr REsouRcEs AND SETTLE
xENT OF AMERICA Y
nThe most experienced sailor would be very much de-
ceived in forming Judgment Of the seagong qualities Of
the unard and Collins steamships from mere outside in
specton; and acknowledge that at FIRST could not
conceive the Collins line to be safe and easy in
the Cunard line From considerable experience in all
classes OF steam vessels besides the Cunard America ad
visedy that the Baltic and out by long odds
the very best and easiest steamship sailed in
"Thsy cannot be rvaed BY any English vessel at pres
ent The whole thing is obvious the meanes under
standing, and may clearly be traced to the unequaed
beauty Of the model The English engines allowed by
the Americans to be superior Why therefore, should we
allow Brother Jonathan beat on our own elements
The is plain enough and patent to the whole world
and Is summed up briefly in sentence The British
model far inferior the american say this in sorrow
and jealousy and investigate calmly and dspassonaey
this momentous question When inquiry Is thorough
aroused England do the result III how
ever obstinacy and pride allowed to blind our ship
builders they will richly merit the fate that will inevitably
beall themnamely, to be soundly beaten by American
naval architect.
III tell them again plainly however unpleasant to my
self that there steamers IN England comparable
scih the BaltcH
Commodore Stuart the Nestor Of the American navy in
reply to letter addressed to him by r. X Collins esq.,
dated January l6, 1885, says:
PHILADELPHIA January 10, 1855
DEAR SIR: In reply to your letter of the 10th instant
asking my opinion as regards the Importance of great
speed for vessels-ofwar beg to state that in my udg
ment there point essential vessels designed
In my opinion it is the important quality cruiser
possessa point essential to her security from
peor force Forces Of enemy that it cannot be too
highly estimated. On the other hand where vessel of
possesses this advantage 1t accords her the ability
Of overtaking her enemies and subdnng those of such
force her speed and armament would her
countering.
The Of 1872 declared by the United States against
Great Britain exhibited examples of these characteristics
be moderated how could be possible for us to
look back at TINT period Of history with the national
satisfaction which feel at the recollection of the
har-breadth escapes of vessels-owar from superior
CORRESPONDING entirely to the possession of this superiority
skfuy seconded by the seamanshp OF those who con-
troed and conducted them and who subsequently were
crowned with victories the vessels of their enemies
through this advantageous quality in their ships support
ed by their batteries the bravery of their officers and
men 2
IF property essential for enabling vessels depend
ing upon the elements for their powers Of locomotion and
also TO be successful in retreat and victory ore an
enemy does not constitute consideration of the greatest
Importance should feel myself at loss imagine what