New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-08
NAVAL NOMENCLATURE.
MIME. Of orr New rren-.rad Vessels.

Names Of orr New Eren-tiad Vessels.
When the notorious seam frigate Morrmack Wis
tied England provincial journalist suggested that
her name was the most uorsensical that could be
given to "a vessel. " ,,euy Mack" said he, " why
they might as well have called her Dancing Jack or
any other Mack RACK" The enthusiastic gentle
nan forgo; that shpwag named after the fashion
common in Eng and az inAmerics." Call yon'i"s"'s'
alter your riveis your haeIs after your &c i"''
nnd your small ships after animals ihe hFs' l"i'
Of this advice which was volunteered by an 4.'BlSh
writer ahout a century rce las been o''eh lo'''N1"
by US. We Lave iIi;.ttes named San'ee S'olne' u
Lawrence, Rai.an, Savannah, ana BT"ndy"lne'
Our lne-of.batte ships were generally, inoeed al
most invariably, called afer Safes as the Fsnrsyl-
yania. Oho, North Croiina, Vermont, Alabama,
Virginia. and NeR-Nork. Our sailing cor
vettes were sometimes intended to perpeuaie the
names of distinguished soldiers and Iat,iots--a
John Adams, Il Dale, a Marion, a Preblc, and
Franklin. Il is a singular fact, aud has been COM
Iaented On as such by foreign WRITER'S that there has
not been for years vessel buiii for our Navy hon
ored with the name OF Washington. England has a
Nelson, Dcke OF Wellington; France Napoleon,
Rud Russia an Alexander; but we have no V asAiag
ton. Nor ID there ia the Navy ship called the
america, which a French captain years since
considered "von tins remarkable" In I;aly and
Russia, Scnptural names are sometimes gwen to
naval vessels. Psnch pIopAeced everlasting perdi-
ito for John Bull because he sunk The Twelve
Apostles at SevaStopol, lid considered /, disgrace
full 10 have John the aptist" compelled BY
Christian nation 10 occupy tight place in battle.
There is an old Superstition prevalent among our
naval salts, TO the effect that
"a ship named the s'oSks
Never leaves tho blocks"
which IL not devoid of truth lar Of Uncle
Sans craft are concerned. The New-Oriesrs was
christened nearly half century ago, and was never
launched SO were the Alabama, Virginia, ami New
York. But the recently which have been
furued out of The shp-house in every way complete
interfere sadly with the truth Of Jacks proverb
Naval writers give hlr. Toucey great credit for The
names be gave come of our gunboats. Seminole,
Wyoming, Dacotah, and other Indian names, seemed
especially appropriate for dimlnutive (and cher
uen.of-war, especially after the Gose of Boxers,
Bustards Bull Dogs. Piumpers and Dodgers, that
naval nomenclature had received from England.
After several severe newspaper criticisms, the Admi
rally improved little in naming its small ships.
Fancy, Fervent, Fidget, Flirt Daisy, Dapper Dove,
and Jack Daw were hailed az wonderful inventions
of "the First Lord" A FreDchman once declared
that the name ofeyeIy English man-oiwar began with
a 6ull-Bu Dog, Bui.ibch, and Bullfrog happening
to catch his eye in the alphabetical arrangement.
Considerable curiosity existed among the curious In
such matters TO tue names irOnclad vessels would
receive. La Gloire wac deemed perfect success.
1t was French TO the marrow, and foresbadoved
the poetcal object Of all war-glory. The Warrior
WAS not bad, but coming so quickly after La Gl0lTc,
1t was looked upon as an evidence Of the calmer
sense of the Brlon. The Black Prince was failure.
il meant anything or nothing. The Monitor had
also an Anglo-Saxon twang about ii. The Gaena
and Naugatuck were neither suggestive nor
brilliant.
We have obtained a correct list Of the romen-
clature Of Mr.. EriCssons nine iTon-clsds. Below
they are printed for The frs, time. We regret 10 say
there is nothing remarkably euphOnious IL lis seec-
tons. The titles Of some as ~ old as tho h.lls
Annexed we give them in extenso.