Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-02-27

Toars &C.


.ues'~s. Edi,ors of Fro Pres.
Travelling away down through
South Brooklyn TO Rcd Hook, this morning, be-
yond the Atlantic docks, I came upon tho at
lsntic Marine Rsilway''-rot q railroad either
over or under the seat has DO; been found
necessary Yet 70 connect both siles Of New York
HArbor in that vay--but huge conuivsn-e Of
beams which rolls on trucks, and runs ON % track
laid for the purpose, out for two or three huud-
rel feet. uH3er l-qter and on which vessel
fairly rides ont Of her native element, and comes
high and dry on shore. Huge chains wound mp
by pondcrous gearing, draw the monster back
and forth, as Il slides down into the water like
great turtle. and disappearing unlcr the bows
Of a ship, take it on its back, ami cravl- up oa
land with is burlu Idl not see the urebiu-
cry in operation it takes quite while, a- the
motion Is, Of course, Slow.
close by, urrcarc.j the skeleton rlis or 90 huge
side wheel steamer -tbat shall be. We went MP
inside, passed down through the whole length of
the ship on the door timbcrs. where a sore Of
carpenters were hewiug and hammeriue, meas
uring and fitting. building the ship. Il does
not seem as if so massive q stru-turc, couli ever
break to piece. that such huge bslus should
ever crack, or such stout bolts draw out bat
alas, Of how many such piece Of INNS best
skill have the winds and the waves made uiince-
meat. in one half hour
On the other side Of the Ra!laay, lay one Of
the new ggnboais, the Mendoza handsome
vessel. but yet in the rough the carpenters being
busy with her internal fitting her masis are not
yet IN She is a side wheel steamer also, and will
carry ten guns. It seems risky to send ont such
q craft for a war vessel, when a singles shot might
instantly disable her machinery, break a wheel
or the upper works Of her engine, but the ques-
ton Of draft il gems must determine tia mat
ter. \ propeller Of that size could not be built
to draw 50 little water,-only four feet-and
there arc many services for which such light draft
boats are indispensable. We must run the risk
Of injury. Only let US have enough Of thcae,not I
for the pirate ships to catch and burn, however, I
but to control every Southern inlet ard harhor.
and make a blockade that shall set johnny Bull
dancing for fear of cotton starvation.
The Mendoza is to have suit of Ugh, iron,
plates, only designed however. 20 repel mus
kerry.
Coming back. We passed, ia the basin II the
Atlantic Doeks.a plumber of;he prize vessels cap
tured by our blcckader,. condemned, and await
ing the decision Of appeal cases, 70 be sold
Among them was the Hiawatha, one Of the first
vessels captured, believe. Many points ofaw,
of great nicely, have arisen in these eases, but
l understand it is expected tina; the Supreme
Court viii shortly lsy down general principle.
in the matter Of prizes. which viii render the
adjudication II future cases more speedy. You
have noticed. Of course, the long Ii; Of vessels
already sold, and the large ainoun; Of p,ize
nancy distributed. Wen, the sailors Eho i9-s
year ard half hsye watched the Southern hsr-
bors, deserve Il. Let us not crovl becsuse some