The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-08
THE LATE st NE w s
BY MAGNETIC AND PRINTING TElsGRApns.



IN HIGH PLACEs-AsTOUNDTNG REVELATIONS tx
PECTED-sOMETHING ABOUT THE IRON FLOATING
BATTERY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NEW YORK HAIR
BoR-NEw PATENT LAWS, ETC.
WASHINGTON, July I, 1855.
The Senate discussed to day the important consttu
tiona question whether it required twothirds Of the
whole Senate only twothrds Of aquorum to pass bill
over the Presidents Messrs Mason Clay and Bay
ard contended for the former. Messrs. Benjamin, S-
DELL Seward and others, supported the latter position
The question was decided in favor of twothircs OF
quorum by thirty TO In the ratification of treaties,
requiring the vote, two thirds of quorum has
always been regarded sufficient The veto defeated
by vote of thirty 10 twelve, the whole vote-orty
three-being only tw o thirds of the Senate.
The republicans voted In body to-day against con-
siderng the pr OPPOSITION TO adjourn.
Iran Nye confirmed to-day as Marshal OF the
Northern district of Illinois, vice Wilson, resigned
The book stealing resolution passed the House to-day
by decided majority.
Mr. Ball. Chairman of the Committee on Public Build.
ipgs will make astounding disclosures, either to-
morrow day. He will offer a resolution asking
Tor special committee to investigate certain charges
against persons in high places in the Treasury Depart
ment. His charges are backed up by atidavts OF re-
sponsblc He charges certain in the Treasury
Department with receiving large sums Of money in
awarding for custom houses, &C. Mobile and
in the West The Committee will also have power in
vesgatc other contracts that have been awarded here
and elsewhere, and to send for persons and papers
Persona implicated in this matter who have hereto
fore stood high in the department.
suppose you that large iron floating bat.
terry has been building in New York for years past
This fact, however is not generally known. Several
months ago. believe the Secretary of the Navy
intelligent naval officer to inspect this battery and re-
port progress This report is file at the Navy
i,i-
when gun-boa and all Of defensive and offensive
modes of warfare being developed.
This iron vessel so mysterously locked and hid from
public view has already been fourteen years under way
and Of considerable progress has been made her
construction, and she could be finished, If neces-
sary in year. She is four hundred feet long, and
thirty or forty feet in breadth. She is buitseaiirely
Of wrought iron pates, and each plate inches
in thickness; these attached to her iron frame
work. She will have eight steam engines and
be propelled by paddles, each side
OF her stern post. IN smooth water she will run il is
expected from twenty to twenty-five miles per hour
and she is intended solely for harbor defences she
will have smooth water to run in at all times She
by her double propulsion power by reversing Of the
screws, turn in her axis, or in space of four
hundred feet She Is 10 be mounted with twenty guns
Of the heaviest calibre and longest range
The dock where this wonderful floating battery Is
lying is very mysteriousy guarded. Owing to the
length OF the vessel rocks have been sxcavated
and of the OF Hoboken has been tunneled
admit end of the monster. When Mr. Robert l. ste
died he left models TO enable Mr. Walker, the Saper
nenden Of her construction, to complete the vessel in
accordance with his gnal conception she has the
government thus far, half million Of dollars,
all of which has been expended, and lately the work has
Of the private funds Of Mr. Stevens
This vessel two three like her, will guard New
York any force that may be brought against the
place. She is perfectly impervous TO shot she'll from
Lancaster, Paxhan Columbad The iron pates Of
which she constructed each thoroughly tested by
shot BET IRE being fastened TO the frame Of the
sell Her machinery all below the water line and
Of harms way. Her speed Ill make her equal 10 twenty
thirty gun boats of the modern style With two or
three such vessels New York would indeed be mpreg.
nabe.
The Committee on Patents preparing, and will
port In a short time patent bill in opposition the
recently reported in the Senate by Senator James Of
Rhode Island senator James bill Is considered by
ain Of the patent fraternity, too general. The bill
which being gotten up has been put into the hands Of
Of the legal minds Of Massac husctts and when
plcted expected 10 the approval, and overcome
all the obstacles, which have heretofore been brought
against bills ola similar character We tell better
this, however, when see the bill.
The Committee Patents have another bill which they
intend 10 report called the Reciprocity bill The bin,
understand H. is that will apply TO foreign patents
rather TO the Canadas II appears that there l.
cIrocity patent bin between the United States and Cana
ds except that operates very unusty upon poo
plc as wen as upon foreigners and this bill-the main
Of which have seen, and Of cannot
speak positively with reference to twill be approved
by both countries The cost Of procuring patent by
foreign country hundred and y dollars, and, II
informed correctly, government pays double this
sum besides which, there other difficulties have
10 encounter The reciprocity patent law obvates
al this difficulty.
Mr. sumner left here this morning for some quiet and
heathful resort
There seems 10 doubt but that the senaies Com
mos on Territories will report the Kansas bill passed
Thursday, substitute for the House bI and 10
that shape return 10 the latter body, where H.
Il doubtful
The House 4 to &C, on the river Improvement bills
which the senate passed to-day over the PRESIDENT
vc,ocs. Mr. nrghts decision, dcosiyely sustained
establishes precedent relative 10 the const nationality
n tho ygte in surh cases