Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1856-08-09
S,Lar New York Iron Floating Battery.

A large iron floating battery has been build
ing in New York for some years past. This
iron vessel is so mysteriously docked and hid
from public view, has already been fourteen
years under way, and of course considerable
progress has been made in her construction,
and she could be finished, if necessary, in one
year. She Is 400 feet long, and 30 or 40 feet
in breadth She is built entirely Of wrought
iron plates, and each plate seven inches in
thickness; these are attached to her iron frame
work. She will have eight steam engines,
and il I'd be propelled BY two screw paddles,
one on each side of her stern post. In smooth
water she will run, it is expected, from twenty
to twenty-five miles per hour; and as she is
intended solely fot harbor defences, she will
have smooth water to run in at all times. She
can, by her double propulsion power, by re-
versing one Of her screws, turn in her own
axis; or In the space of 400 feet She is to
be mounted with twenty guns, of the heaviest
calibrc aud longest range.
The dock where this wonderful floating
battery Is how lying is very mysterously
guarded. Owing to the extreme length of the
vessel, rocks have been excavated, and one OF
the streets of Hdboken has been tunnaled to
admit one end Vf the monster. When Mr.
Robert Ii. Stephens died, lie left models to en-.
able Mr.. Walker, the superintendent OF her
construction, to complete the vessel in accord
ance with its original conception. She has
cost the Government THUS far, over half mil
lion of dollars, all Of which has been eypend-
ed, and lately the work has been carried on
out of the private funds of Mr.. Stetehs.-
This vessel, or two or three like ker, will
guard New York from any force that may be
brought against the place. She is perfectly
impertious to shot and shell, from Lancaster,
Paixham or Columbiad The iron plates Of
which she is constructed are each thoroughly
tested by cannon shot before being fastened to
the frame of the vessel. Her machinery is
all below the water-lne, and out of harms
way. Her speed will make her equal to TWEEN.
ty or thirty gunboats cf the modern style
With two or three such vessels New York
would indeed be impregnable.
The PRESIDENT flIssED IN SosroN.-The
usual corporation dinner p, Boston on the 4th
of July took place Il, Fanuei Hall, and among
the regular coasts was the stereotyped one
"Th..c. President of the Uuited States" This
however, it appears, was too much for some oil
the fanatcal spirits present, and they com.
menced kissing, which was kept up until at
length they were silenced by pretty general
outburst of applause on the part OF the great
BODY of those in attendance The Bosoh
Ledger says: i,
Perkins Cleveland Esd, was called to re-
spond to the tonst; and administered to the hiss
ing parties proper and well merited rebuke
for thus trostitutng day and an occasion
such as the 4th of July, to the spirit of Sec
tionalisin; which had no right TO be here
His remarks Wefe fully endorsed by the meet
ing, whose cheering was evidence that the
solid men of Boston" were above all such
contemplate demonstration.
A loafer, recently arrested in Cincinnati
being questioned by the officer as TO his vocation
replied
! Sir am doctor-I have cured pain in The
head Of navigation, and drawn teeth from the
mouth of the Mississippi; have anatomlzed
the side of mountain, bltstered the foot OF a
hill, felt the pulse Of an arm Of the sea, plas'
tered a cut on the hand Of nature and cured
feon on the finger Of scorn.