The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-05
TIE WdBASH ar CONST4NTYN0{'LE
Translated from g IL preae a orient. !,

TRANSLATED from La Prese d orient. -
IN recent number we gave particulars concern
ing the United States screw-frigate wabash,
manded by Captain Barron and bearing the broad pend
ant of Commodore Lavaletc, whose rank corresponds
with that of rear adin'ral We take pleasure In
publishing further interesting details upon this magni-
cent vessel and the object of her visit to this capital
Commodore Breese visited Constantinone last year in
the American sailing frigate Congress, AS and two
years before Commodore Strngham preceded him in the
Cumberland, 4S, also % sailing vessel These frgaes
of the usual size and construction of vessels of their
class and the calbre of their guns is much Inferior to
those of the Wabash.
The aim of the American government in building vessels
OF the class of the Wabash give better accommodation
creased number of guns but ordnance of much heavier
calibre. Thus the Niagara, though forty feet longer
than the Wabash carries only twelve guns the lat
ter though pierced for fifty guns carries forty only it
has been enormously stated that she carries
of sixty guns She carries two pivot guns her fore
castle and quarter deck entirely principle, the
invention OF Commander Dahlgrcn, of the American
navy they throw solid shot of 1876 and shells Of l05
pounds The remainder of her spar deck guns shot
or shell 4pounders those the main deck Dahl
gren 9G-pounders for solid shot shell.
IL. NJ. the Sultan having given direction last win
ter to have screw ine-oibattle ship of $50 guns
sructed in the United States for the Ottoman navy the
Minister of Marine Mehemmed Ali Pasha, selected Rear
Admiral Mehemmed Pasha to proceed 10 the United
States to obtain information on the subject.
The President of the United States with the view of
promoting III. L. NJ Is visitors, directed commission
composed of the most eminent officers constructors and
engineers of the American navy TO prepare the necessary
plans for the construction and armament of the Ottoman
ine-of battle ship Ii intended that she should be
like the Niagara $40 feet in engih-and one may
easily imagine the magnificent proportions OF vessel of
this size by those of the Wabash. It was also in
tended that she should be built aud armed under the
perntendence of officers of the American navy The in
tenton of II. NJ to have ship of this class construct
ed in the United States gave general satisfaction Pesi
dent Buchanan rendered Mehemmed Pasha the most fiat
tering reception, and when he about to return to
Constantinople the " Wabash was placed at his dis
posal.
This explains the recent visit of the wabash to this
capital and the handsome reception she received from the
Ottoman government. III. l. NJ. pleased TO visit her
and to express his admiration Commodore IavalIette
His Majesty afterwards gave audience the Commodore
aud his officers and desired the minister OF the United
States to express 10 President Buchanan his warm nc
acknowledgements for his courtesy TO Admiral Mehemmed
Pasha.
II. y, Kubrizi Mehemmed Pasba, the Minister of Ma
rinc also visited the wabash" and inspected nnutey
her throughout. He afterwards entertained the Ameri-
can officers at splendid banquet at his Yai county
seat at Caudilli, on the Bosphorus.