Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-04-28
wo Hundred and Eighty ave Thou
Sand ID ollaFs for a few old HuIks

Two Hundred and Eighty i've Thou
sand Dollars for u few old Hulks
Ii was recently announced by the govern
ment organ that the Paraguay expedition
"will not cost the government dollar be-
yond the ordinary expenditures of the Depart
ment, except for the purchase of seven low
priced steamers, much required by the navy,
at a cost of $289, 600, which has been sane
toned by Congress"
As to the quality and capacity Of these
"low-priced steamers; naval officer con-
nected with the Paraguay expedition writes
from Montevideo as follows:
Eighteen men-of-war of the United States
navy are now at anchor in this harbor, the
most extraordinary squadron, in various re-
spects. that ever sailed under the orders of
the department. From the Sabine down TO
the MetacOmet we have before our eyes a va
riety of specimens of naval architecture that
range from the sublime to the ridiculous.
There are frigates, sloops, steamers steam
boats, and canal boats, looking each more or
less formidable and more or less beautiful.
Our gallant irigate would be an honor to any
service, AS the Metacomet would be a dis
grace. 1t is medley of size and proportion
such as i have seldom witnessed The mill
bic hnlks dwarfng everything around, but
the most uncouth looking mcn-of-war mag
Unable There is that canal boat the Chaplin,
looking not quite so badly, but the same tub
as the rest. What splendid object the Met
acomet is for a fort. with its machinery thirty
feet above the deck and its walking beam
offering the fairest shot that could be de-
sired Look at the Westernport, Caledonia,
and Southern Star-three-knot vessels-that
ha1 10 ctr 1, al ID
such desperate efforts, and whose timbers
would fly from the effect of an eght-nch shell
in manner at once lively and unpleasant to
all on board. am glad to say that the Meta
comet will be condemned
And yet these are the vessels which, from
last accounts, the Department proposes to
purchase; vessels that have been condemned
by their commanders as unfit for the service
into which they have been called-weak. un-
seaworthy, and incapable of the exigencies of
the service. L have already informed you
that official reports to that effect have been
sent home; and it is to be hoped that they
will be treated with proper consideration.
There is but one opinion to these vessels
solemn protest is announced by those who
are best capable of Judging in the matter.
against their being introduced into the ser
vice.
The accounts of the difficulties and acct
dents which were cOnteuded with by these
vessels in the voyage out, would condemn
them in the eyes of any man whose vision
might be clear on the subject. Fortunately,
none of item encountered severe weather.
The elements were propitiOus or otherwise
their fate might have been different from
their present good fortune.
Another account Of these steamers is as
follows:
The Caledonia's machinery was so ricketty
that fears were entertained for her safety.
The Westernport was also shaky, and it was
believed that general survey might he con
sidered necessary before these steamers could
be despatched from Brazil. As reported, the
result of a survey on the Metacomet demon
strated her worthlessness and she would be
sold at Rio or Montevideo. The machinery
of the NJ. w. Chaplin was also found to be unfit
for sea- Washington States.