Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-06-12
AN ENGLISH OPINION OF THE UNITED
STATES STEAM FkIGArE NIAGARA.


Half mile or 30 below Gravesend, just about
where the river tourist might expect TO recover from
having the Great Eastern at Millwall, another
monster Of the deep stands in full view. She 10 vast
ark, with peculiar defiant air, and an express
sion which tells you at once, that she was made for
other than the peaceful purposes OF commerce. though
nothing in the way of armament or even in the trim
of the yards, denotes the man-of.war. This ship,
along whose decks crowd OF fashionable yislters
daily and hourly stream, aud all round which lie a
fleet of shore boats '.masters Of the situation, and
making much Of it as if the President himself was
on view is the far famed frigate Niagara. She is, we
believe, the first United States frigate that has ever
anchored off Gravesend.
Let readers, therefore. or at ioas such OF them
as love to gaze upon noble specimens of naval arch-
lecture avail themselves of the unusual opportunity.
Such will not soon again present itself; for IN
sze FORM speed and intended weight of armament,
the Niagara is beyond doubt the first man-ofwar OF
her class, in the whole world. As the vister ap-
prosches her lofty sdes he is struck with the easy,
graceful in which she sits" the water, with
her bows we'll up, slowly rising, aud showing OH her
beautiful lines and clear to fine advantage. But
beyond this feature the general effect of her exterior
is not very pleasing. The dark black hull unreliev-
cd by single streak OF white, gives heavy appear
ancs quite foreign ~ her shape She is also very no.
low in the waist which imparts that walsioed as.
psct 40 characteristic Of the American liners, but
which their fine frigates except in this instance have
managed to avoid, or at lesst mitigate.
She is ship rugged with tall and somewhat heavy
spars-a novel festure in an American screw, "a Their
builders have Justly prided themselves on avoiding
practice of over.masting our steamers. But,
heavy the Niagara seems alott, she has not rope
or spar too much. On the contrary, the marvel Is
that they do the work ascrbed TO them tor un.
der sail alone, che can run, it is said from 10 to IL
knots an hour.
This is speed which even our river steamboats,
would count as excellent. From the spar deck the
Niagara looks by means imposing. The bulwarks
are of such unusual loft,ness, and so curved n as
apparently to diminish her real size. In TACT, many
Of rigates less than half her size, and not to be
compared to her in any warlike or sea-going quality,
seem larger on the deck. Not till the visitor has
walked forward and perched himself somewhere near
the bowsprit, can he fully appreciate her immense
size aud beautiful FORM and feel that ne Is looking
down on such war.seamer as the world has not yet
seen the equal o aud by the side of which the Eng
lish navy can show nothing to conpete.
The Niegars is one of twelve steam frgates which,
short time since, Congress ordered to Do built, by
way OF eounter6alance to the enormous increase OF
the English aud French marine The construction
of tho Niagara was entrusted by reclamation to Mr..
Steers, the builder Of the celebrated clipper yacht
America. In building her he had four conflicting pur-
poses to reconcile-to make her gun.bos good sea
boat. good sailor, aud good steamer. The result IS
the Niagara-in design a kind of compromise, and
which lesves her the fastest saer in the world, one
of the fastest steamers, fne sea boat, aud very
good man OF war. .
Then follows an elaborate and eulogistic notice Of
the various portions Of the vessel. The artics con-
cludes a. folloNs ::
During the voyage across the Atlantic no attempt
was made to effect quick passage, on the contrary
the engines we're mostly worked at half power. All
the rigging had been put up during the depth Of an
American winter, and az the ship reached the moist
aud warmer ATTITUDES it sackened to an extent that
made il more than probable the sticks would come
out of her altogether especially during some days of
tremendously heavy weather. She was, therefore,
hove to for four days while all made taut again
Win full power, she attained speed Of Is knots,
n .fiH IA lbr
quarter she can count IA knots. Her present draught
ls feet but when armed, with all stores and GOALS
board she will draw IS feet. Each 100 tons brings
her down three inches in the water.