The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-03-04
A Won a erf.aI Naxv.

A highly interesting paper has heeu furnished
the Naval Committee of the Cnited States Senate
and 10 published ia one of tie New York papers
entitled "Nstes and Observations OF the Review 81
Sptthead, by Commander W. NJ. Walker, United
States Navy" Commander Walker Gays that the
British dest, the review OF which he witnessed
sxtsndsd, 10 Q double line, over space OF twe'e
miles from vest 10 east. aud displayed woudrons
perfection In the CELEBRITY and precision WITH
which, 10 defiance OF winds or currents, It's im-
sasuse power might be directed upon sny position
There were two hundred and seventy five vessels
IN the feet, nearly all screw propellers, and
manned with $1,000 men Commander Walker
elves the following description Of "the ioatir &
batteries" new and formidable description OF
vessels:
The floating batteries are OF very nncau'h and
unvieldly appearance, partaking in model about
equally Of q canal boat and gallot. In general
their construction 10 that Of iron shirs. The
decks are Of oineh plank resting upon l01 incl
beams placed foot 9 inches from centre TO centre
the stop sides" are covered with 6-inch plank
over which. extending 10 feet below the wate'
line, 10 sheathng OF wrought iron plates IA feel
long, % inches wide, and AZ iuches thick, each
secured TO the hull BY l \. iuch screw-bolts. They
are brig~rigged, are fitted with non-cnndens'
ting engines aud screw-prope)ers, ani can make
under steam alone Il TO ; kno's- They are
pierced for 30 guns, and mount from IL to Il
sixty.~igh,h's.
Horss Pwr. Lcfh. TX, Rdth. pp,h. Drht
Meteor s...s@ - tsS ~ -
The only vessel Of this class which has been
tested in action under French colors 10 the
attack upon kinburn. She was struck in the bull
IS times, without receiving any other injury
than the indsntation Of the plates to depths vary
ing from one. fourth to one and one.fourth inches
fYn,r ali ia yEf
luvuluerabiity of these vessels oouid get no &c.
count, and must ADM. want of faith ia it.
The mortar boats are cutter-rigged vessels Oi
about 20 tons, very mnch resembling in general
form and appearance tho "Anchor Hoy, which
vas formerly and perhaps still may be attached
TO the Norfolk navy yard. Their draught is i've
feet. Each mounts Is inch mortar.
Commander Walker remarks that the III ost preg-
nspt thought suggested by this display is the
immense manufacturing energy it reyssls-a con-
structive capacity great as to have created, in
the space Of few months, the most fo.midabl IL
portion Of the feet now under consideration; and
there 10 reason to believe that, had the Govern
nent required it, force of small steamers five
times as great could not have been equipped. One
single establishment, that OF Penn. at Greenwich,
accepted al order for eighty sixty-horse engines,
70 be completed within three months. They not
only filed the order in the time agreed upop, but
put the engines 10 operation board the vessels
for which they were designed.
What simpified the work and gave increased
efficiency to the fleet was the fact that one type
Of engine for each class o: stea mers having been
decided upon, the same patterns served for all;
and by judicious distribution OF spare parts on
board of each, no vessel was burdened with d load
Of machinery; yet no accidentor brent do~n could
occur IN a squadron which might not ." t' spot b.
repaired