New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-08
MARINE AFFAIRS.
LAUNCH or THE ADRDci1c.

n. Aarstic wss launched ye'tf- Gay morning. Last
md .ry.s. Of the Collins kne and the vessel wnch
expected 10 MAINTAIN Arerean reputation for ssPsri-
orty in naval lecture No. less than from twenty
to thirty thsand people were assembled within three
or -four oscks Of the yard Of the hess. Steers ner
haId.r.. from which she was launched. Every spot
fr.m which view Of the vessel could be oossined
wa. blackeped with spectators. Al 10 O'Clock ferry
hos. with Xr.EK. Collins and two or three hun
dred invited guests, among whom was M. lhaekeray
ara an extensive representation of the press len the
fo, Of Houston street for the scene of the launch
Tn a few minutes the little steamer Cuba OF wv
,u,,-bttle ouly because she was launched on tue
,,n. dsv with the Adriaticsid from the yard OF M
II Webb into the water in an unobtrusive. matter Of
eour.e WAY was caught up by little steam tug, ana
n.s..d into the endless Jungle of shipping in the port
She i. intended by her owner, Hr. Is. Blanco, iof
South America.
The limited States Mail steamer St. Louis was 80
near the path of the Adraic that it was ieared she
uo.h be injured and the operation of hauling her
into the stream delayed matters 50 long that it was al
one time feared that the tide would fall and the day
be lott At last however, at lll5, amid huzzss aud
the booming Of cannon she moved steadily and ma
i.s,jcally into the water. Half way between New
York and C;reenpoint an anchor WAS let 60, but 1t
seemed TO offer little resistance TO her progress
There was some delay about getting out the other
a,ehor and when that began TO draw she was within
two Adriatic lengths q the Brooklyn piers. The ef-
element was intense How far would che 60 into
Rro,klyni In another minute she answered that by
rippipg I'D the wharf where large number Of people
had assembled to meet her. The people ran away,
and she sust aimed no damage. She was towed back
into the dock to be cOppered.
The Adriatic is the largest steamer yet
launched. Though shorter by some thirty feet
than the Persia She is nearly coo tuns larger Her
hull is divided into eight water tight compartments,
and she is supposed to be the beet built as well as the
largest steamer aaoat Engines Of 800 horse power
will be put into her at the Novelty Works, and she
will be ready make her trial trip in August, Prooa
by. Her cost will amount TO ss30oo0.
The following are her dimensions, compared with
those Of the United'Sates steam frigate Niagara Mr.
Vanderbilt's new steamer, the Vanderbilt, and the
Atlantic the first Of thr Collins line:
AdIi.,i. S.g.s vs a. s.s A vi is-
beF6....:.. 50 in. 81 fee. feet 81 is sco
Tunnsfe........... O2D or<W ''iVV 'VN
At II clock large number of guests sat down to
dinner at the hall, No. 600 Broadway, on the invita-
ton of Mr. Gro. STEERS the architect of the vessel.
the Mayor +. WooD, Esq, congratulated the CON-
PAW assembled on the successful launch of the noble
steamer. every reference to which was received with
loud cheer. He congratulated Mr. Collins and the
whole country. for, he said the birth Of steamship
which could not have an equal in any part OF the
world was an object of national interest. In conclu-
.iop he proposed
The h.eih Of My. Collin.
II was drunk standing, with three times three.
Mr.. COLLINS said that although he had been in
cped not to speak yet, as his friend the Mayor had
been Kind enough to express the idea that this enter
prise ives not solely pecunary one, but one cacu'
lated 10 benefit the whole country, he would take this
opportunity to let the country know the great dlti
cutes which he and his associates had been competed
10 encounter in the prosecution OF this enterprise
When it was proposed TO build TINS me OF
the Cunard line already In the field, ami there
was a strong prejudice against ocean steamers. BE
fore be proceeded any further he would take the no
ery Of saying that although the line bore the name OF
the Collins, still, bad it not been for MIR. james
Brown who was, unfortunately, not then present,
America would never have seen this line OF steamer
There were in the frst place, but very few ner in
this country who had the means to bud such line o.,
steamers and there were very few who, If they had
the means would have had the patriotism to buI1 the
line Cheers He would go back to the law which
authorized the building of these steamers-the two
ships, which would cost $500, Co., The Aspinwsli
consist Of three vessels which would cost s6o0,Ooo
They saw the difficulty of raising tue money and so
also did NJ. Aspinwa1 Without the knowledge OF the
Collins Company, Mr.. Aspinwal petitioned Congress
& r aid. Mr. Mason, who then Secretary of the
Navy, TOLD them that If any money was advanced to
their line, money NUT also be advanced to the Col
Ens line. Mr.. Aspnwal had associated with him
many Of the mliOnaires Of New York, and, notwith-
stsnGng that could not raise the 5000 600 necessary
build but three seamer one third OF it was furnished
by the Government. The amount 10 be ralsed for the
prosecution Of this enterprise, estimated at oOo
has been somewhat exceeded, and, although We could
raise but little million by subscription Mr. JAS
Brown Lad furnished the whole Of the baance-two
million of dollar. There had been little article in
the newspapers from Captain Nye in reference
TO bis friends. Will regard to Capt Nye he certainly
was very efficient man and an able com
mander Bat the idea which be put forward, that
English capital invested in these steamers, was
enoneous. Mr. james Brown had been q naturaized
citizen for fifty year,. Applause. He thought 1t
was a very high compliment to their ships, that for
,gGers were proud 70 claim them for their own lap
pause. With regard 10 patriotic motives, he sup
posed that they would scarcely think that merchant
would be led by them beyond his Immediate interests
But from very early period in his life he had watch
I'd Navy with much interest any man IN this
country. When he proposed to build these steamers,
Mr.. Brown put az his command any amount OF
money and be spent three millions Of dollars before he
asked for the first voucher His directors had told
him that one thing must not happen; he night
sink the whole capital invested but he must not make
failure Loud applause. Every nation had acknoTl
edged what they tad done-had acknowledged that
h had done more than any other nation, and the
ony opposition with which they had met, he was sony
TO say, had been from own country. Had the
present Administrator succeeded in giving them mo-
tee tina, their additional compensation would cease,
gentlemen then would not be there present, AMI
they would never have seen the steamship Adriatic.
In starting this line of he had had two objects
in yiew-frst, that the English steamers should not
monopoze the carrying Of the mails, passengers aud
valuable freight the ocean; and, secondly that