The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-02
.irhmrih 9ispatrt.
TUESDAY MORNING. April. 2, 1881

rattar--A Description of the Rock-Spesxtd
Gaefd, kessfaa, &C., &c.
US. STEAMER RicRxoxp,
MEsstNA, ISLAND or SIcILY, !
February -, 1851. }
Since we left the United States we have ha,
quite an agreeable cruise, so far. After
passage OF twenty three days and some hour
from Hampton Roads. we arrived at Gihral
tar. During the passage we had a fine chance
Of testing the Richmomtand her qualities. =
We had plenty Of wind, sea, sail and steam
In all of which she has disappointed MS. IN,
cannot hold her own on the wind, her bottom
being 80 round, and keel too small to keep heI
from making iee.way and in any kind Of
cradles for babies and under sail or steam
or both combined, she is very slow, in com.
partsou to what was expected OF her. The
impression seems to be that her propeller IL
too small, and too near the surface of the wa
ter; 1t being so near the surface that In ar
ordinary swell on the ocean it is thrown ou,
Of the water, thereby causing the engine tc
race badly, consequently racking the ma.
chinery TO a certain extent. However, she
makes up for all in her good looks. She has
been the beauty Of every harbor we have Wis.
tied and being kept strictly clean, entices
many visitors, and receives man fiattering
praises.
Gibraltar is all that 1t is represented 10 be-
the greatest fort In the world. / don't think
1t possible that it could be taken in any way
even II half manned. Just imagine an exca
conference Of Fort Monroe pierced with
hundreds of por t-holes, so that guns can be
brought to bear on any conceivable point OF
attack, and You may form some idea of its
impenetrableness. Its capacity for accommo-
dation of soldiers is immense 1t being ga lleried
Oh, and any quantity Of rooms and quarters
for officers and soldiers erected therein, the
whole being studded with millions of feet of
heavy timber. At the base of the rock is a
very nice little city, containing about fifteen
thousand Inhabitants, composed of all ations,
from the sooty Ethiope and turbaned Moor,
to the fine fine old English gentleman The
that protects every accessible landing 1t is
indeed the key to the Mediterranean, situated
as 1t Is in proximity to the opposite shore, as
Old Point to the Rip Raps.
We stood on our decks and had fine views
OF parts OF two countries. e., Spain and
Africa. The scenes Were very interesting TO
any rejecting mind, requiring an immensely
OF thought TO try to trace and locate the
many historical facts and legendary &C
counts connected with this world renowned
locality. The natural scenes are very grand
being subimely mountainous and dotted
here and there with towns and villages.
citadels and cloisters, and clean and white
farm houses, or. perhaps, tented city
Of soldiers. In all, it strikes one with those
feelings that bring him, as it We're, with a we
to the presence of that Almighty Being.
whose will created and peopled those won,
derful scenes. After a stay of ten DAYS we
left Gibraltar for Spezzia in Sardinia, where
we arrived, after a pleasant passage of five
days. Spezzia is beautifully situated. but
scatteringly built around a part of an am
phltheatre- shaped bay, almost land locked
With towering mountains, affording an excel
lent and safe harbor. The scenery around it,
at this season of the year, is very romantic
and, from all accounts, it is really enchant-
ing in the summer season, at which time the
city is very lively, being watering place.
and the resort of the nabobs of the country
I have had some very pleasant rambIes
around the meanderings of the bay, and about
the farm houses, getting acquainted with the
owners and drinking the pure juice of the
grape, Of their own making. The people arr
very hospitable to, and like, the Americans.
and express much regret at the state of our
internal affairs at home. They fear, and not
without cause, that it will injure their ex-
about swapping their King, which they con-
slider long stride towards republicanism.
AFTER stay OF ten days, we left for Genoa, |
and arrived there after a few hours run
Genoa, the birth place of the discoverer of |
our country, is quite an extensive and noted |
city-containing about two hundred thousand |
inhabitants, an extensive export trade, the |
nags OF all nations flying in its harbor, which,
like all the cities in this country, is well pro-
tected by Notifications. The city being built |
on the base and slopes of the mountains,
with very high houses eight and nine stories)
towering one above the other, and its statues,
citadels, and large public buildings, churches.
&c. interspersed,g give it, from the water "A dem
atty In appearance quite remarkable On en-
tering the city, you will not be disappointed;
it is very compactly built, with narrow
streets, which are kept tolerably clean. It
has the din of large city, with the people
hurrylng to and fro about their business
Women and children work here The sail
making Is done here almost entirely by te- |
males, and, in fact, the most of the lnec hanical
branches have women about them as sales
women, or account keepers. &c.
AFTER a stay OF seven days ito my regret we |
left for Spezzia again; arrived, and Law there
Tor twenty days, waiting for the store shin |
Release to start for home, to take the prison.
ers and inyalids, and letters we had to send
nome. On the 4th of January we started for
thus place. After a boisterous passage of
eleven days we made haven. On our way
here we touched in at Gaeta, where the Sar-
dinians had the King of Naples penned up,
they trenching and throwing bombshells al
wild rate. The Commodore without cast
ing anchor, learned the news through |
the visit Of French officer, and put us on our
course again for this place. Since then, the
King OF Naples made good his escape in a
Spanish vessel. This place, like the rest. is
strongly fortified. The city is in the hands of
me Sandman troops. and the forts in the
save the city from being raced, they have
thus lar avoided an action but we expect
every day to receive orders to clear out Of the
harbor, ana stand off and see fair play 1t
VIII De grand sight, as the harbor forms an |
Amphitheatre, with forts all around opposite
o the city. The city forts are on the hills in
he rear. Water or, as it is called ,Amphithea-
re street, is very uniformly built, and could
'e, and no doubt will be, thrown into a water
'attery, thereby afording considerable protec-
ion to the city, and would be very annoying
o the enemy. The Sandman fleet is daily
expected here. / think the two continued
would soon silence the besieged From re-
'orts hear they are very disaffected and no
onger than the 2lst of this month seven ofti-
ers OF high rank, with forty privates, desert
inians ~
AIN very sorry to hear of the troubles at I
ome, and If they continue you may expect C
ne nome sooner than at first an anticipated for =
OLD virginia, the birth place of my child.
ood, should leave the Union, your old friend
will share her fate. J. A. Mol. :