Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-11-25
TEE ANGEo.RKnRn NAvx.
FuII Account % the Rebel Vessel at Glass
2OW-PreparnGiOn 10 Break the Block
ade-Tbe Steamer Alabama.

his aceounts Of the formidable feet of iron clad
vessels of war said to be rapidly completing in
England on rebel account, aud intended both to
open the blockade of Southern harbors and 20
operate against Northern seeports. We have
been favored by a gentleman Just from England
with some further information on the same point,
which is both authentic and minute. Il may
tend to quiet whatever alarm is felt about an
immediate descent upon our coast; but it is by
no means of such character as ought to les
sen sny efforts the navy department may happen
to be making.
According to Mr. Cameron, three immense
iron steam rams, the most powerful ever con
structed are building for the rebels. 1t IS not
certain that the statements is true. Two are on
the stocks at Liverpool, in the hands of James
Laird, member of parliament who built the
pirate Alabama, and is pushing them rapidly to
completion. The third is building if snywhere,
on the Clyde ct Glasgow. Our informant has
little knowledge of tho Liverpool rams, their
size, or how nearly finished they are at present.
His account relates especially to Glasgow. Ia
the great shipysrd of that port three iron clsds
are building. One of them, the Hector, just
launched, is for the British government; another
for Denmark, both in the yard of Messrs. Ma
pier g. Sons. The third is screw steamer,
under contract by Messrs Geo. & Jas. Thomp-
son, at 5000 tons aud 500 horse powers of model
so that she is calculated to draw but fifteen feet
of water; built wholly of iron, her frame nclu-
ded; snd with a.plating of twenty-tWO inches
thick, of which 81 inches are iron and the
rest solid teak. This vessel is said to be for
some foreign government not named, though if
for any recognized government there is no reason
Why there should be any mystery about her.
Bat although no effort is made to hide the facts
about any other vessel, little is generally known
of this one, and information like that we give
was b.ained with difficulty. A man of-war is
commonly named when her keel is laid. This
has no name, but known only by her number in
the yard. Her frame is about half raised, aud
work is going on slowly. The contract requires
her to bs completed in twenty moHibs from lsst
July. II any vessel is now building for the
rebels on the Clyde, ii is this, But it is quite
obvious, from the rate at which the work on her
progresses, aud from the period fixed by the con-
tract, that she is not relied on for immediate ser
vice And concerning both this and the Liver
pool rams, cur government is and has been con-
stantly informed. Whatever doubt there may
be about this iron clad, there is none at all that
other steamers for different service are bought
and built for the rebels at Glasgow. The Co-
lumbia, Adela, and Leopard, all sailed last sum
mer from this port, the Columbia to Hamburg
for a cargo, the Adela to Liverpool, the Leopard
to Cardiff The two former were captured en-
deavoriDg to run The blockade; the Leopard got
through
The rebels are preparing, apparently, not to
break the blockade this winter by force, but to
evsde if by vessels of unusual speed With this
view they have bought and are fitting out steam
ers at Glasgow, which port seems to share with
Liverpool the homer of being g rendezvous for
pirates. There is great activity in all the yards
especially in that Of Messrs. George snd James
Thompson above mentjqned, in which six iron
but not iron-ciad-veSsels are on the way for
construction OF repair, all owned by rebels OF in
rebel interest The Iona, Pearl, Eagle and
Ruby, were selected especially for the work OF
carrying arms aud ammunition into biOcksded
rebel ports. The Iona Was the first to attempt
the vOysge, snd was sunk by collision six weeks
ago. The ethsr three, Ike the Iona, ere long
| narrow, swift smOoth-wa;er, sile.wheeI steamers
buit to run fifteen miles an hour on the Clyde
and from l50 to 200 tuns burden. The Pear
was lying at Queenstown, taking in powder
when the City of Bsltimore, on her last voyage
out touched at that port l. is proposed to
send her and the rest-aH of them being unfit
for al Atlantic vOysge-by way of Madeira to
Nassau, there to bad, and thence 10 attempt
the blockade There sse immenss stores 81
Nassau waiting the opportunity to find entrance
into rebel ports, and tha rebel necessities are SO
great that they will leave no means untried tC
obtain them.
clsss-the Thistle, Giraffe aud Columbia, three
screws built for sea voyages, destined for simi
lar service, but Of much larger tonnage. The
Giraffe cost E25 900, the Thistle GI2000, anc
the sever together not less than 10000 L
appears from an examination Of their custom
house register that all, except the Giraffe. are
owned in the name Of George Wigg, 9 Liver
pool merchant, active in tha rebel cause, and
were bought by Henry Lsfone, agent. BoH
! Wigg and Lafone have been in Glasgow OF
business connected with the vessels Messrs
! Bsgby s. Co, of London, who were concerned
in fitting out the Gladiator Of recent notorieiy
have also three iron steamers Of five to six hun
dred tons binding on the Glide probably in
| tended TO run the blockade. From the fact ths
Captain Reasons, who went to Glasgow to take
charge If the Columbis, was transferred to the
superinte9dence of the whole rebel hsel, it is
supposed that the fcm may also be interested in
! the Columbia. The names of Messrs, Begby
e. Co, of George Wigg, Of Henry Lafone, O.
GeoTgo and James Thomson, aad especially Of
James Laird, NJ. P, and rebel merchants
agents and shipbuilders deserve to be faithfully
remembered by loyal Americans till possible
day of future reckoning.
It is evident from such facts as the shove
which are important and come to us well au-
thenticsted, that the rebels have no lack o.
siderable part Of the cotton hypotheeated to the
rebel government is pledged in some way &c
English capitalists as security for advances, and
they in turn are secured by insurances at an OK
travsgant premium, bat with margin enough to
make themselves good.
But it is to he Liverpool Southern association
that the rebels most largely owe whstever o
credit and resources they possess in England
| Liverpool is bitterly and unanimously re bel il
It's sympathies, and throughout Great Britain
this psstilent seaport has exerted a wide anC
earnest influence against us. We are not likely
| to forget it.
A fact conceraing the Alabama deserves to b'
stated. Tho American consul at Liverpool seems
to have made every effort 10 persuade the British
authorities to pTeVoat her from leaving port on
cruise which all men knew was to be pirstical
| The government at last consented 10 interfere
and the day after the Alabama had sailed ISSUED
an order restraining her from going to sea.