Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-08-28

Tne New United STATES G~un-boats'
Tas New York EUsaiag Post, Of the 10th
inst, says:
The first Of the t~wenty-thTee gun-boats now
building for the government in this city and Vi
cinity, Philadelphia, Boston, and o'her points,
will be launched at the ship yard OF MI. John
Eagle. tomorrow afternoon.
Che next, which is ia nearly an equal state
Of forwardness, will probably be launched next
week at WesteTvelt's yard.
These two vessels, according to the contract,
were to be ready in sixty days from the 9th OF
June, but have been rapidly pushed forward,
and will be launched before the expiration of
that period. The machinery will be completed
in thirty days thereafter, and the vessels viii
probably have on board their ornaments by
the last Of September. -Four others, building
at Brooklyn, Williamsburg, and Greenpoint,
have fifteen days additional time, and will be
completed accordingly.
Though nominally gun boats, the size,
strength and armament Of these vessels place
them among first class ships of war.
They are to be of equal dimensions, and as
nearly similar as it is possible to make them.
The extreme length is one hundred and sixty
six feet, the width twenty-eight feet, and the
depth Of hold twelve feet. The timber is mostly
Of white oak, and he knees, braces and fast
enings are Of the strongest and completest de-
scrinion. The draught OF water, it is calcu-
lated, will be about nine feet.
The armament will consist of twelve b.
Founders, with q pivot gun amidships-pToba-
blv a columbiad of the heaviest description.
A small pivot gun may be placed on the fore
castle deck.
The vessels will be schooner rugged, and
propelled By two screws, driven by two back
action engines, with thirty-inch cylinders,
each complete il itself. An auxiliary engine
will also be on board. The speed to be obtain
ed from the steam power alone is reckoned TO
be fourteen to fifteen knots an hour. Thus
these vessels will be faster than any ether war
craft afoat. The speed Of the English gun
boats is scarcely more than nine knots.
The complement Of men required is UNDER
stood to be less than two hundred, though that
number might be advantageousiy employed.
In less than two months, probably, the gov
eminent will be in possession Of the whole
number Of the vessels-the best and most ef-
fsctive Of the class ever built.
The Beauty OF she suitan's SeragiIo.
CoEsTAETrEoPLE, July 10.-My last letter.
in which l attempted to describe SOM OF the
incidents that attended the ceremony Of the
girdiBg on the sword az the MOSQUE OF Rvoub.
contained but an sllueion to the subsequent re-
ception al the palace Of tie Old Seraglio. On
entering the palace the Sultan was received bv
his mother, the Valide Sultana, who, havinT
saluted him with a kiss on the forehead. con-
Quoted him to the reception-rolm. Here
large assemblags Of ladies, among whom were
the wives Of several Of the Christian subjects
OF this Porte, awaited bis arrival. It is one of
The special prerogatives Of the Psdishah that
in bis presence yashmaks may not be worn.
He alone eff all men is allowed to look upon
The unveiled beauty Of The Turkish ladies'. Tbs
wells worn in public By ne younger and more
beautiful Of tie women in COnstantinople are,
however. 30 thin ard transparent that tie priv
ilege is Of small value.
Very little cODeeaiment is effected, and every
one may form bis W opinion on tbe beauty Of
the fair sex No doubt, the yashmak prac-
tees a slight illusion on the beholder, mas
much as it makes detection Of the paint and
enamel, so freely used, less easy. Hence,
probably, it is that a very exaggerated notion
Of the beauty Of Turkish women prevails in
Europe. When one considers that the most
beautiful girls among the Mussulma1 popula-
ton Of the empire usually find their way to
the BosphoTus, and that, beside these, Circas-
STA and GesTgia contribute largely to the ha-
Tens Of ConstantinUTle, the number Of really
pretty women TO be seen al The sweet waters
or other places Of resort appears small. New
erthsiess, I am assured that on the occasion in
question an ordinary mortal must have been
oVerpOWered by the beauty Of person ana cos
tune presented to his imperial maiesty,s eyes
ConstaRfinOpIe Cor London Times.
IT. De- "a re - -