The New York herald., 1863-12-18
The Loss Of the weeha vixen.
TO THE EDITOR OP THE HERALD.

Ono Of the city papers has editorial the
loss Of the Weehawken. Al the commencement 1t
says:"Unt are put in possession of all the circum-
attending this uckless shpwreck IL will DO
possible to draw any just conclusions" and Immediately
after this preamble proceeds the most dogmatic
ner to condemn the Monitor vessels totally
worthy giving for this conclusion the loss
Of the first Monitor, the sinking OF the weehawken, and
the "precarous passages which all vessels Of this class
have made their voyages southwark"
submit that TO urge the loss OF the original Monitor
a why the present feet is unseaworhy either
exhibits deficiency OF Information on tho subject or
strange disregard for justice not to be expected in the ed
to advance the oundering of the Weehawken anchor
for the purpose vessel which successfully passed
through the heaviest gale OF last winter and has since
been active service with the South Atlantic squadron
whore she has written record which will live in history
will not bear close scrutiny.
AS to the precarous passages which all vessels OF this
class have made,' know from my own knowledge such
statement to be untrue, as have had much experience
In these vessels, both at sea and IN battle.
What bearing the fact that tho Monitors 90 to Port
Royal for repairs has with the Ironsdes resting
quietly at anchor is not apparent The Monitors require
repairs because or injuries received by successive
bats with heavily armed forts at short ranges Does the
morning paper that these repairs were necessary be-
cause OF injuries caused by the eemens' No, but 1t
leaves It's readers TO infer that they
Would it be just true 10 state that iron ships are un
for the purposes OF because have been
wrecked in tho North Atlantic or that wooden vessels
unsafe because the Royal George oundered at anchor
and the etauDch steamer EriCSson sank our own
because port left the water inc2
WIN the journal question In the aiirmativc7
think not. Then why should II point to tho sad acc
dent to the battle Weehawken proof OF the
OF iron clads, when schoolboy
knows why tins vessel went DOWN 1t from defect
her construction stranng OF the hull The vessel
which has successfully breasted heavy gales did not sink
unseaworhness while riding at anchor in "topsail
breeze"
1t IS certainly not very patriotic the part Of ga loyal
newspaper thus % twist facts for the purpose OF de
stratng the unreliable character OF the national
vessels
Tho Monitors will make a voyage in the heaviest
weather due 70 the quantity Of coal they carrypro
vidcd Of course that the machinery In order and the
decks tight.
The same paper thinks that the broadsde ships on
which the French and English have spent much time
and money possess good gong qualities 10 fact, that
they models for TO copy IL PROBABLY arrives at
tins conclusion ia logical as It does In
regard the OF the Nonitors from tue
trial OF French iron clds a sea aod the beautiful bo
havior OF the English n.clad Prince Consor,
Il is not many months SINCE the paper aIude 10
berated the Navy department. tor having the andacity 10
advertise for proposals for building some high sided
broa isdc clads Now il ccusuriug for not doing
So Verify consistent course and one which must give
great weight opinions ot this paper the subjects
OF naval architecture and eng lneer .ng. -