Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-04-25

oolo = eog9ooGs
o. the sod ult, % sxessdisgly In
terestine dsbsss teok place IN the Brit
ish Hoeso Of Connona, n reference =
;roa-clad vesss1s. The general ssots.
meot Of The speakers was in favor Of
abaadoudiug the construction Of expcn.
Awe 1ostifioations, and pushing ahead
eossgetically ison.clad vessels and bat
ieries. Ne. Gregory referring to the
battle between the Monitor and Merri-
mac, said:
"The recent event had solved the
whole question Of colonial Notifications.
Il Va positively throwing away money
TO spend Il on Notifications 10 the colo
nise. These iron vessels, built 10 ninety
days, and costing only 100000. had
guns Of such calibrs that they we're .
most dangerous invading force. No
Notifications now constructing could
beat them. But BY building the same
kind Of vessels the colonies might de-
TEND themselves with less outlay. Oar
superiority on the American lakes would
b. very much endangered BY this new
class Of vessels. It had always been
.aid that though the Americans might
overruo the border, yet IN Quebec they
would end difficult mt to crack but
since the introduction Of these destruc-
i've instruments Of warfare the case was
very different. If the Warrior had met
The Merrimac, it Was matter Of grave
doubt whether the angular-sided vessel
would not have overcome her vertical
sided antagonist; but if the Warrior
and the Monitor had met, there is little
doubt that the smaller vessel would
have plunged her shot into the unpro-
tected parts Of the Warrior, and would,
10 fact, have overcome the pride Of the
British navy"
Lord A. Tempest said be had seen
the Merrimac, and described her a. fol.
lows:
"There was some misrepresentation
with regard to her. Although she was
q most powerful vessel she Was not well
calculated for anything but smooth
water. Owing to the weight Of the
plates put upon her she was immersed
to that extent that there was nothing
above water but the deck for her gun
ports. Her sides we're carried up at IN
angle Of As. and at the top was an open
bar roofing, the consequence Of which
was that shipping a sea would certainly
sink her. Hear, hear.] With regard
to the Monitor, he thought she was
more powerful, because she had made
q voyage in rough weather from New
York to Fort Monroe; but it was no
disparagement to the gallantry Of the
officers and crew of the Merrimac Ia
lay that she was only fit for river pur
poses, and that tho anticipation Of bel
being able to cross the Atlantic was moi
veil founded. Hear, hear. The hon
orable member for Chatham was emit
tied to the gratitude OF the House fol
having brought forward this importan,
question, and no submitted that the
time was come when the government
should reconsider the matter, and pause
10 the construction Of costly land for
tresses, which practical men were O.
opinion would not be SO efficacious al
these new iron vessels 10 defending oul
coasts and harbors. Hear.T
Sir G. e. Lewis, speaking for tbt
government, concluded a speech will
the following observations:
cit is maxim, l appfchend, In ma
val warfare, that all floating batteries ar
interior to those on land. am assured
that the effect Of the recent experiment
With iron. clad vessels will only be t
stimulate the inventive powers Of oo1
engineers in the effort to produce some
ordnance which will be forcible enough
to smash the sides Of the iron clad ship.
and hope they will not be long il
achieving that result. A laugh ane
hear, hear. That is the problem which
the military engineer has to solve, anc
he may consider it . triumph in his All
if he cont.ives gun which those ships
which are now invulnerable to artillery
will not be able to resist. Hear.
There is nothing unreasonable in The
ambition which encourages him in thai
aim. Hear. We have grounds, then,
for holding that complete revolution
in tho art Of war will not be effected
but that, in few years. the dispropor
ton which is now said to exist in poinl
of strength between floating and fixed
batteries will disappear. IIear, hear.
am fully aware Of the Importance o.
this question. ard of the necessity TO-
our adopting those expedieuts which
are suggested by recent experience
We must, however, beware Of taking a
precipitate step. Hear, hear. The
Government ought to be guided b,
scientific advice, given on mature con.
sideration, and ought not to rush into u
series Of costly chsnges. The subjec,
will receive the careful attention Of the
government, but cannot hold out any
hope that the construction Of forts fol
which contracts have been entered into,
aud which are already in progress, will
be aba1doned."
From Fort Monroe.
FORT M0NxoE, April %.
Small boats arrived to-day trot b Nor.
folk containing several refugees. They
report the Merrimac ct 10. port yard,
having iron shields laced over her port