The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-09-02

The following article, taken from Liverpool pa
per, gives very graphic account of a recent visit
of Queen Victoria and her royal party TO two clipper
ships-the James Baines and the Champion Of the
Seas-built in Boston, by Donald Mckay, for the
English government. The ships had recently ar
rived at Portsmouth. We publish this that Amer
leans may see and understand what is thought Of
American naval architecture by transatlantic
friends. They appear, from the account below, TO
be highly pleased with these splendid vessels. Mr.
Mckay has, we understand, bid for the new steam
sloop-ofwar which is to be constructed outside Of
tho navy by order of the Secretary. The COMPETE
ton is animated The award will be made, pre-
sumo, in few weeks.
THE JAMES BAINES AND THE CHAMPION OF THE
SEAS--R0YAL VISIT.
From the European Timesl
The clipper-ships James Baines, Captain M Donnel
and Champion OF the Seas Captain Kirby, OF the Lv
Messrs, James Banes Co. arrived at Portsmouth on
Monday morning from Liverpool No ships that ever
entered Portsmouth harbor created much curiosity
among men-of-wars men as these great merchantmen
High and low have been board to visit Them and the
Port Admiral, Sir George Seymour, expressed his unqua
flied establishment at examining the speed logged by
these mercantile clippers The James Banes will take
in nearly 1000 Of the 9th and other troops and the
and other regiments on Thursday, for India They are
equipped with the latest modern improvements They
each Of about $500 tons burden As feet In BREADTH
and 2S5 feet in length and very handsome. We have
had any ships in this harbor says the Portsmouth
correspondent of the wmes) which have created such in
terest these, for they have been visited by the best
sailing and gunnery officers of the navy, and all have
expressed their admiration and astonshment at their
pacious stowage, airy and ample accommodations and
the unprecedented speed chronicled in their logs.
Their great fame having reached her Majesty through
the public journals and the reports of the authorities and
those ships being now within convenient reach of the
court at Osborne her Majesty on Tuesday morning com
municated her desire to the naval and military command
es-nchicf at Portsmouth that the embarkation of the
troops might not take place until she had inspected them
and the ships destined to carry them to their destination
Accordingly, information given to Captain nj Dom
nell, of the James Bines, and Capt M Kirby, of the
Champion OF the Seas by the port admiral OF the Queens
intention Each captain got his ship in order for the in
specon and made every preparation to receive her Ma
jesy Other troops not going out in those ships, 1.-THE
AID and Saith regiments also commanded to be in
review order in the dockard by hapast g. as the Queen
would inspect them prior to going board the ships
At quarter to the royal steam yacht Fairy, Captain
the Hon. Joseph Dcnman having on board the Queen,
Prince Consort the Princess Royal and Prince Alfred
rived off Portsmouth harbor. The usual royal salues
fired by the squadron ut Sphead and in harbor and
Mt the royal party landed at the King stairs Of
the dockyard where her Majesty received by Admiral
Sir G. Seymour X. G. B., Major General the Hon Sir J.
" Scarlctt X G. b., and staff Rear Admiral Martin
Col Foster r. E. aidede-camp to the Queen Licuten-
ant Colonel Wright assistant quartenaster general Of
the southwest district; Capt. Seymour, G. b. Major
Nelson, brigade major Captain Breton, town major DR..
Bell staff surgeon Of the district Lieutenant Hall d.
rector OF police; Flag Lieutcnants Malcolm and Brand
reth &c.
The Royal Marine Artillery kept the ground and the
AID and Saith formed in line from Kings stairs to
the leading to the gates along the face of
the storehouses and clock tower, under which tempo
rary inspecting stage with standard staff was placed for
the royal circle The 54th posted from the Pitch
house etty to the Shears jety alongside Of which the
James Banes Lady Jocelyn and Champion of the Seas
were moored Her Majesty, having visited the steamship
Lady Joceyn conducted by Col Wright to the James
Baincs her Majesty received by Captain Donnell
and Mr. IT. NJ Maclay, the owner Mt the gangway, and
conducted BY them this noble clipper Her Majesty
personally examined the dry and meat provisions supplied
for the officers and troops and expressed her satisfaction
at their excellence She afterwards assembled to the poop
and took view Of the great length of deck thence de-
scended to the troop deck and walked round it, perhaps
the most wonderful and unexampled beween-deck her
Majesty visited and which appeared to excite her
lively surprise On taking her leave, her Majesty
pressed herself much gratfed by the visit She had
idea that there such vessels engaged in the merchant
service and compmcnted Mr. Mckay and the captain in
divuay the size and equipments of the James Banes
and the Champion of the Seas generally We congratulate
Messrs James Banes Co the high honor which has
been paid them and look forward with hopes to the
time when the vessels employed in the merchant
service of Liverpool will be looked upon with favor
by government officials For the transport other
vice better ships can be employed and the Thames
must look to its laurels.
The james Banes and the Champion of the Seas which
shipped their stores and military baggage Wednesday
embarked the 18th and 10th regiments Thursday and
to drop out to Spithead yesterday Officers and
seemed graed in the highest degree at the roomy and
lofty accommodations these noble ships afforded them
and in the best spirits at the prospect of speedy passage
to the Of their operations The embarkations were
superintendent by Col Wright in whose hands placed
the following noble letter by the of the Black Ball
line Of packets
Ok JAMES BAINEs,
Portsmouth, Thursday, August s, 1857
MY DpAR SIN: AS l know from the experience of be-
ing soldier son. that there is glory than riches In
the profession of arms believe there must be many
rowing hearts among the poor soldiers wives; and
substantial proof of the deep interest felt by the OF
the James Bnes and Champion of the Seas at these sad
partings beg to enclose check for $780, which shall
feel obliged by your dividing between the commanding
officers Of the troops now embarking in these ships
Yours very faithfully
IT, M. MACKAY.
To Lieutenant Colonel WRGur Assistant Quartcrmaster
General Of the Southwest District.
The above sum goes to the wives of the goth 97th,
Information has ss;aen communicated to Mr.. Mackay,
the owner Of these ships that they would be honorcd by
inspection from the emperor and Empress of the French
at Spithead on Saturday
The royal visit to the above celebrated clippers and
the admiration expressed at their proportions and
mediation, must while gratifying to the owners at Liver
pool be oabIy acceptable to transatac friends,
ing that they of American construction, having been
Quilt by Mr.. Donald Mckay Of Boston.
THE LATE SENATOR RusK.