The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-03-19
The Iron-Clad Steamer virginia.

The Norfolk Ddy Book has the following
complimentary notiea Of the gentlemen uho
originated the plan upon which the "Vir-
ginia'' was buiit:
TO Messrs. Williamson, Chief Eng ia. er,
ana j ohm l.. Potter Naval CONSTRUCTOR be.
long the credis OF originating, devisinc, aua
carr yang ont the plan ny which the unsigh =
ly, black anu begtimmeu eu wreck left US by tn.
Eedernis, was converted into tie engiu~ 4
Wsr which now stands torth to derry the
power OK me como,ned navy Of l. o Nor ia,
aud 20 challenge the admi, atom OF the world
| These gentlemen having been directed BY
| the Hon. Secretary of the Navy TO rep.r,
some pl an by w hi, II the Mec ini,,c III ight I-
| reEdered serviceabie, reported that which WIS r
subsequently carried Quit having reoe,veI
| TIE approval OF the Department Mr. WI.
iiaEisOn desig ed tbs ltaratlOns % III &c hinerY
| ana al Porter had charge OF the Iscon-
siruction OF he hull CT. the vessel
During the long time necessarily consumed
with our iimiieo resources, IN building the
vessel. these gentlemen had mauy diff sui tis 8
10 combat. Thousands OF objection we're
| raised against the plan many OF chem ,.y
| naval men. who gave expressions to thei!
| grave doubts OF snccess, by asserting thnt
| She wonId not bs sufficiently huoyan. lAa;
her 0uw and stern ha.t not suff cisnt real ~
on the water to keep In line with the sst of
the sh ips that she cou id not be steered pro
periy, and many other like expressiors
These gen tlemea stroVe on however, ag liiis t
this gteat tide OF public opinion which rot
SO strongly against them and patiently
ab,;ed tnsir.uIne, until now the great isyia-
than that sprung in to existence ut In air ir.
stance, has, by her success, fully proved the
corectness OF their pinns.
~Messrs. williamson and Porter are both
natives OF Vrginia-the one "A resident oi
Norf,Jz, the other of Portsmouth. They
both belonged 10 the old navy, and resigned
their posi- ions in that service when ihsir
State wi Narew from the Union. Not on.
iy has Virginia, bat the whole :sonih, reason
10 be proud of them, and we opin. tina, I al.
ent such as they have exhibited, Will not pass
uUSew ardet-.
1t will perh aps astonish those over CAUTIOUS
indi yiduals who have oppose9any consider,
allie Investment la preparations for naval
warfare, to learn tn at 1t cost bu; els5 600 to
Mt up the Virginia, while In. one day sh .
destroyed over 81 ,l0o, 600 of Yankee property.
and came near multiplying the amoant.
while the damage inflicted by the enemy was
com para lively insig niiicant.
The Petersburg Express Publishes an ex
tract from private letter written by AIr
Porter, the naval constructor, which we ap.
pend
I received bat little announcement FROM
any Que while the Virginia was progressing
Hundreds-l may say thousa nds--assar ted
she UOuid never float Seme said shs would
turn bottom side mp; others said the crew
would suffoea's; but the piss satd the
concussion and report from the guns would
dsafep the men. Some said she would ne,
steer. and public optnion generally about
here said she would never come out Of the
deck You have no idea what I have sEf.
fersd in mind since ] commenced her, bus
knew what l was about. ana pefssysred.--
Some OF her inboard urranS nSemeet IS are OF the
most Intricate character, and have Gu I'D ma
many s.eepless nights in making them; but
ali have tdrned ont right. and thanks are
due To u kird Provideacs, whose blessing on
my enn have many times invoked.
lmust say VISA astonished At the success
OF ths Virginia. She destroy ed the Cumber.
laAd in fifteen minutes, and In thirty more
the congress was captured.
The Minnesota would have shared the same
fate, bur she got aground and the Virginia
eou Ia not get TO her.
The Virginia steers beautifully, and hsr
speed is three miles per hour more than il
evef was sne is very eolnfor table there IL
not the least un pleasant sound from ths nns
aud all the officers are highly pleased.