Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-04-22
THE PRESIDENT AT ANNAPOLIS.


We learn from the Baltimore papers thar tbs P:es!.
dent Of he United States, accompanied by the Score.
,ary Of the Navy, reached Annapolis on Friday at
ternoon The President YVES welcomed most cordia!
y by committee appointed Cor that purpose, and
received the citizens generally IL .le Senate Cham
her in the evening On Saturday, the President and
Secretary accompanied by large number Ct G,s::n-
cuished genemeu from Washington, visited the
United States steam frisate Mcrrimac.
The President aad Secretary Of the Navy were re-
ceived at the gangway by Capt. PenGerSast and his
officers and conducted 20 the quaTterdeck where tie
marines were drawn up and sall.ed. The great guns
nf The ship then gave forth their NOISY welcome lhe
view presented at the moment Of the reception OF the
President on the quarter deck had a certain degree
of imposing interest about 1t that is not every day
parali1lcd. The beautiful appearance and immense
amplitude of tie deck of the frga'c; the quarter
deck brilliant with un.crms aud lhronged with civil.
lana and say dressed ladies': the waist OF the ship
crowded with the hardy saiiors inS their share as
snsctstcrs whilst alot the yards wefl still manned,
and below on he gun-deck the quick wore o. com
mand was d-ognsd in the thunders OF tue guns, a;tc
gether formed toA sssemI1c not unworthy of some
degree Of enthusiastic odulrhon.
4 yenern examination OF tx various parts OF the
vessel followed. So many descriptions asve already
been published that but little further neea &c sad =
To the nnnautca eye she appenrs the very parecGW
Of VA vessel solid and massive in her uuornnIieni
ed beauty, complete in her appointments; aud perfect
in all the improvements Ut hull, model machinery and
armament, that could 1i h-r 10 cope with the most
powerful ve.sri that is POSSESSED by the navy of any
nation. The lac, HAT she has eleven acres of deck
area expresses briefly tut forcibly 81 ideu Ut het
treat SIZE. Her present number OF officers and mn
/, about S0G; but this is only her pence complement
In time Of war sue could not he fully lnnnaed Will
ess hen l5UU and has plenty OF lighting room tol
! 2,0UO.
Whilst the Si.itors. increased by this time by an
,,ber boat load f,Gr Annapolis, and excursion par
20 from Baltimore, wers scattered through the ship
the drum beat to qaarers Gnd orders were gwen L
prepare the ship for action. The GRnGWays akel
down. the guns urlinbered, ammunition was pasSes
M from the magazine orders rung out nirecrs tooR
their station the nsn were hurried 10 and fro, the boat
swain whistles heard in all parts ol the emp aC
the mode Of preparing the chip Tor action was carried
out with ali the apparent earieness anu sFeeu III"
! would characteristic the half hour previous 10 ren
| engagement S0ua all these various lG!ses Were
drowned in the OF be guns; first sing!y, Een o!
| two's sud threes anI then whole broadside g'i"l
off with "nui:itudinous roar tiet stunned the ear
and msde the hetrt beat with strange emotlons.-
| Amidst all this noise the two great guns, working u
p,vots at each end uf the upper deck, would b. dis
charged at intervals, the sharp and concentrated con
cussiuns they produced asserting its pss-emuense il
uosipe.s in defiance OF the continuous thu nier of thu
other guns in the midst of this exciting fGsnt
whilst some of the ladies debating the proprie
~ of fainting end many of the gentlemen felt i'm
nensey brave and pa:.iGi;c, Il new aspect gver
10 Inc Oruer WIS lssuSl, tue mel
rushed from the guns, seized cutlassea and boardn!
pixies aud 10 the quarter directed by their officers
The board-rs cambered up the sides and lower gsn.
ANA engaged III desperate passes with an imugnar,
enemy, the pkemeu supported them with their lunl
aud ugly looking weapons; thSG both boarrier
aud pikelnen fell back and the marGsc advancing
poured brisk fire III the same direction. The sam
svoiutions "f ohfens aud defensive attack wsr
performed in different quarters OF the vessel with tn
changes that might be oecasoned by The d;tferen
emergencies Of actual combat, and then ngain tn
tire from the guns was r-opened until the din grew
almost internal in it's intensity; the decks Of the yes
sci being completely enveoped in smoke, all trace o
her spars aud mas,s lost in the same dense medium
and the position of the guns and men alone shown D.
the uIumentary urd glare that accompanied each dis
I charge The whole exercises were gone through II
4 most etmrabe style, as far az We were competent t
Judge, EnG to the majority OF visitors on board pre-
scented az Intensely interesting spectacle such as the
had never before and may never again witness
/ Tie President art members OF Congress d-sirins
i to return TO Washington ir the evening train, ate
hastily psrtaking Of a rich aud bounful COLLATION.
provided in the Captains cabin, prepared to leave
| The vessel. The same ceremonies yers sSaa cors
through with. The mariners mustered UNI ssluted