Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1865-02-21

unyisldiag platform for 'ha guns, eng saea
construction IS must Esoars the oompis'sss
'shandinsss" in sotion. -.
Notv;tha.snding tie surprising tfanstoima-
tions in naval architecture supsrindnoeo oy
vour war, aud suggested BY tho late Russlaa
war the Surveyor of tho British Admiralty
still declared thst until it shall have bsen sat-
isfsctoriiy asosrtsined that the great length
which is necessary to high speed under steam
ALONE docs net materially interfere with tho
rsady performance Of tho evolutions which
NAV DO required cf men of-war under any
circumstances, i. would not b prudent to &C.
part otherwise than gradually, and after sum .
eient experience, from tao dimsnslons ana
forms of tho ships which HAYS bsen found to
possess every good property" This has psen
tasted in eyory recent instance Of new yes :
sci, aud has led to Tho adoption OF system
which the Lords Of the. Admiralty DO not
choose 10 soose, but Of which our naval
pro6cients speak with proud 'nfdsnoe
Setting aside the improvements Already msae
in pupnsry, machinery, or sructare-Hnd lhey
Ara more considerable than is talked sbout-ses-
Ting ssile what is now being done III that way
and it is much mora than is generally known, We
have 1t this instant, navy consisting OF siAseeh
ships, Of 100 gnus and upwards, averaging, COZ,
lsctiycly, $40 guns, and enginss Of ~ |U'
horse bower; We have ~ ships, carrying w Oh u
Guns unch. mounting more Than 400 guns Alto
cethsr, it'll engines Of over lG 0OO horse power !;
We have u gun vessels varying from AZ 10 lou
horse power each, and 100 gunbost', varying
from 20 10 60 horss power each. Now le"Vioe
out vessels Of the ram species, We hhoH I'LL as
prepate OF $40 regular war ships. mounting
incrs than 1900 guns. Remember thkt, OF ms
enormous aggregate, every vessel WIS especially
coustru ct-d for laval purposes Fer contss' re-
member tn l. ont Of the 700 vessels no"
boustcd 40 the United Safes navy only 2'1
wers EXPRESSLY built for the navy or Tor nsVfl
use and that number includes all their vHlueiesl
ron.cla,ls aud oil vessels. N"cd point ont tho
Importance OF this fact as II go.s to u1hiott tho
nnsts weakness of tho numerous out colppaIa
tiv-lv rowe rl-ss navy Of the Federsls ANA YET
they cry to us, MARY. come or, lie Inc clown
in the circus. They admit that all the navy yaIas
in the United States combined, would not thSr
as many facilities for tho construction Of war
vesrols, rs the least Ct The regular yards Ill
Eoplsni. What chance, then, Is there
in thr, fsy,r, in csse Of The prsSsursS
arising from w,r with us7 IL ID true
they could, for H lime, Annoy and per
hsps seriously iniure our commerce. That dfn'
entity. however would be- Of 4 transient cbarac.
ter or coon mastered, il France put hand III
the burineaa with Us: if not As An active ally, Al
least Is a shelierirg ono, or one that would en-
opge TO take no sdvnLtage of Us Its in the
doubt We entertain of that Identical poin', th"t
any Of our misgivings, - people are cen
tired.
Bot why do 20 into these naval pa'ticuln', ?
Becuus. tne extraordinary naval energy Of this
country, lust no~,St peace, is very tignihcsnt )
because the Naval and Military GtZstte,
semi-official paper, hss lately been taking great
Mains TO ho'd the naval pretsnsioEs Of the Fedc.
rails NJ to ridicule; because the North American
,uusdrons are being changed, aud all the less
trusted vessels are being sent to do duty far from
the American coast becsus, the Fejersls show
they expect something" and, on the principle
that "Rhom tho gods would destroy they hret
make mad, they are irritating US and thwarttDR
France TO precipitste that Something; because,
in naval war agsinst Franco and England, CT
either, they could, at present, make only Short
and it would bo spirited resistance because
where tho Federais think themselves stronger
they are weakest, snd where they think thay are
acting most wist ~ they ara acting most foolish u,
~; because" coming events cast their snaaoWs
II any ono Of these "becsuses suggests no'hins
to you of ITSELF at least the facts give you S1'
moi worthless in themselves.
Yon will be- erieved to hear that Csrdinsl
Wisemsu is Threatened with serious relapse of
his old malsdy-diabetis. His friends-snd that
includes all who admire intellectual greatness all
nver the world-sre spprehensive OF What msy
follow rel turn Of this diseaso slice the medical
attendant of His Eninence express themselves
doubtful Of the corse quences, if it take h'll OF
him Is severt Is now aS il did couple OF yesrs
.go. He has been sui Of 10 this mslady TOR
twenty yrsrs II slso effects, in minor degree,
l. orl Derby, who has lately srff,red much both
from it and The govt.