Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-09-22
English Iron-Clads for the Rebels

From passenger by the steamship Scotia ,whC
enjoyed peculiarly favorable facilities for becom
ing familiar with the facts, we learn that the An.
glo.Rebel lron-Clads are being pushed forward &C
completion with The utmost vigor. Two 2,000
ton iron clads, combining the ram and monitor
principles, are being built by Laird at Birkenhead
One Of these is already launched. They are
plated with ionr-ineh iron; each carry two tur.
reIs, IL inches thick, and have formidable rams
projecting from their stems. Each turret will
carry two 200poundor rihed guns, and each yes
eel will be armed in addition with two l00.pound-
er stern chasers. The guns we're ready at Pres.
ton, Lancashire, and would be shipped and put
on board 10 the Irish Channel. The ram which
was launched was expected to sail within four
days after the Scotia left, and the second would
be launched by the time the first sailed. The
destination of these powerful vessels was reported
to be the United State,j but nothing definite was
known on the subject.
10 order to facilitate their speedy completion,
work was kept up on them day and night, several
gan-s being employed to relieve each other
throughout the twenty-four hours We are in-
clined to doubt the statement that either Of these
rams will be ready to sail as soon as was expect.
ed. And for this rea'on, our informant, descrb-
ng the progress on the first ram, states that when
be last saw her, st before leaving Liverpool, her
smoke stack was up, one turret on deck ready to
put in place, and the other about to be begun
Now here where we are supposed TO understand
Ihes' matters pretty thoroughly, it takes several
weeks to set up the turrets, and then the work Of
burlng the ports, fitting the shutters, and other
operations consume good deal Of time. 1t Is
ftats l,.t. .<l
forward the work. Sinclair and Maury Of the
rebel navy we're daily 10 Laird's yard, inspecting
the progress OF the vessels, aud urging the build.
ers forward.
Ram No. | was launched under the French
flag, permission for that purpose being given by
the French Consul at Liverpool. And What is
more, the craft still flew the lr-colors when our
informant left. The destination Of these vessels
s we'll known to the British Government. Our
agents have closely followed them from the be.
ginning and the evidence accumulated Of their
contraband character has all been laid before the
ministry. Yet, thus far, no effort has been made
10 restrain them from sailing.
But these are not all the offensive preparations
now IN progress against US in "neutral" Great
Britain. A large iron clad sloop Of war is well
under way in the yard efa Liverpool ship builder
whose name our informant had forgotten, aud
five others Of a very formidable character are in
course OF construction on the Clyde. One Of
these, now building by James & George lhom-
son, over 1000 tons burden, will have four or
five inches Of iron plating upon Is inches teak
She will not, however, be ready TO sail for some
months.
% the day before the Scotia sailed the csptan
Of Ram No. ! was heard 10 state at the Adelph
Hotel, Liverpool, that he would command that
vessel. lie remarked in conversation that be
was Southerner and rebel but more discreet
than Maury and Sinclair, be RETAINED from going
near the iron elads, so as o avoid bringing Gus,
picion upon their destination. Public opinion in
Liverpool appeared to have been settled down TO
this poinlj that the neutrality laws Of England
had been evaded long enough, and it was time
that the farce come to sn end. The merchants
and public men had come TO the conclusion that
unlas. the Government interferred to stop these
pirates from sailing, very grave complications
would arise between Great Britain and the
United States, which, it was by no means impro-
bable would eliminate in open hosites.-
Whether their opinion is founded on fact. only
the result can determine ". Y. Tribune.