The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-29
Cordial and Friendly Attitude
Of the French.
THE FRENCH IR0N-CLADs.
Their Departure for the Me-
diterranean.
MOVEMENTS OF AMERICAN VESSELS.
&c. SC. sc.
Our Cherbourg Correspondence.

Our CherbOurg Correspondence.
CHERBouRG, France, Sept IL, 1865
A portion OF the American squadron is still lying in
these waters awaiting the development OF the epidemic
in the Mediterranean and the coast Of Spain and Por
tugal Until intelligence of the abatement of the cholera
is received doubtful whether the cruise of the squad
will extend to Gibraltar it is not desirable that
the ships shall incur any risks at all at this Of the
year. The stay Of the flagship Colorado and the steamer
Frolic has been very pleasant in this port. The
harbor well protected and snug and the city, although
not lively would naturally expect for place Of
its size presents attractions the stranger. The
market is excellent and te prices very moderate COM
pared with those that ruled in Holland, where eveY
thing eatabe high and Of not great variety Just
at present fruit is very abundant and quite cheap.
Peaches pears plums and OF the most delicious
character found in the markets the greatest prou
sion low Good wines also to be had at
small prices, the inner is well cared for.
Since the squadron has been lying here Admiral Colds
borough his and OF the officers have availed
themselves of short leaves Of absence to up TO Pars
which is but twelve hours distant and enjoy the varied
attractions Of that city. While there Mr. Bigelow
Minister entertained Admiral Goldsborough and staff at
elegant dinner which the chief Of staff Of the Min
Of Marine and officers of the French govern
ment were present The Minister Marine absent
at the time with the feet visiting England and
was, therefore, unable to be present the OCCASION
He represented by his chief Of stan On his return
he expressed his desire to tender dinner TO Admiral
Godsborough but their engagements would not permit
day be named for the affair The most cordial senti
expressed by the Minister, and every evi-
dence given Of the good feelings Of the to-
wards our country.
On the return Of the Admiral 10 this port the nag Of
Vice Admiral villannuez commanding the French iron
Snot utsd
with fifteen guns from the Colorado, which
turned by tho Magenta. Oacial visits exchanged
by the Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral Goldsborough
and all the honors In salutes and receptions given
Vice Admiral De Pers commanding the station, entcr
tanned the officers Of the squadron at elegant dinner,
and everything passed on in the most cordial and agree
able manner Indeed throughout tho French officers
have been extremely kind and courteous, and In
every way desire TO make stay pleasant pos
sibe and maintain the most friendly relations with
The splendid dockyards have been opened 10 the nspec
tiop Of our officers and liberal facilities extended to
enable them oil that they contain Of interest And
the yards well worth visit Your readers who
the capital map of the port which tho HERALD published at
the time the Keanarge light with the Alabama or here
will recoect that navy station In completely fortified
and ia Of itself rst class work ls walls Of stone
Immensely massive and surrounded by broad, deep wet
ditch, which s we'll covered by artillery sweeping from
all points Over this ditch is n broad drawbrdge by
which ngrcss and egress afforded II is always gar
rsoned, and could be placed Of defence
occasion required At present guns be mounted
only the face looking the barbor and the pow
erful fon which completes the defcnces the water
side Within the walls all tho various buildings
and docks belonging to the yard. The ship houses
are four in number constructed in n solid manner OF
hewn stone and rooted with tiles They aboni three
hundred feet long ono hundred VIDE The wavs are
all laid on solid rock In OF them ! q queer
looking iron clad torpedo boat turtle shaped owl
dently Of immense strength I noticed peculiarty
of contrvancc In the torpedo apparatus II Is evidently
calculated to bear spar which the torpedo Is fast
ened In the same housc the Emporor's trreme,
bult after the most approved ancient models II
evidently very pretty affair It's day; but has been
out Of tho water long, long In disusc that II ia
rusty and dapdacd To the student OF naval archi-
lecture existing among the ancients Il Ia Of consider
able interest is constructed In every detail after
the plans OF the snciens far the best authorities
could decide
In another house clad corvette the stocks
and progressing rapidly She belongs 10 the new and
smallest class OF iron clads which being created for
the navy or course IL impossible say how many guns
she will carry; but the great feature OF all the French
iron. .clads-the ram-s preserved. She promises to
be formidable vosse Of light draught and great power
In the adjoining house frame OF sister ship liz being
up. The heavy, solid boz already In position Il
Is strongly constructed Of the best timber, and when
covered with iron will be able To stand the shock Of
tremendous blow The above 70 be all the build
ing going on in the yard
The great features Of the station the docks and
basins cut Of the solid rock Tho dry docks are
eight In number, most beautifully constructed OF good
length, broad deep and capable Of receiving the heavy
limo ofba,tle ships Of the navy In noticed tho
steamship Iowa, belonging To q line running TO New
York, which wrecked this last year She
has been raised by the underwriters and brought here
where she wifi repaired and then sent Glasgow or
EdnburY To be rentted and again placed on the line
All the other docks just vacant The immense
basins contained twenty Ave thirty ne-of battle ships
and frgatcs laying up in ordinary az snugy a. II they
In safe 10 far as the action OF tho winds
In the world, that OF Napoleon Ill being a marvel OF
size and depth and Of finish. All the storehouses ma
:h' %
&c, arc stone buildings splenddly constructed
aud calculated to last hundreds Of years. There
Is little show and no pretensions 10 elaborate
architecture but comfort, convenience durability and
harmony combped IN them. They evidently not
built on contract or ESQ, the contractors fclt healthy
moral pressure upon them while the work going on
They were no builders OF the approved Washington
class. They did their work WE'LL and u win ouilast
them even II they exceed the limit OF ordinary human
existence. What man would be bold enough 10
that The labos Of American contractors would outlve
The French ron clad feet OF nine vessels under tho
command Of Vice Admiral vIannuez, sailed from hero.
Ss oa e %So" oSss %
SQUADRON s a most formidable one, and would mako
short work with wooden nec that breasted the
sea. Tho squadron, under Vice Admiral viannuex,
which had just returned from the Portsmouth te con-
sists d the soariso, flagship; the Magenta the Nor
mandy In 0loire. Heroine, and survelane, La Flan-
DIRE, Iavlncibe, Couranne
The solferno and Magenta are double decked ships,
armed with most formidable prows rams resembling
the upper part Of pIoughshare much as anything
can c,npars them TO- They carry between eighty and
In thst particular the fnsllsh ships much SUPERIOR
their armasnt being Armstrong; throwing shos vary
ing from 6Ae hundred 70 three hundred pounds vsskt
he cher aAlDs of the French squadron cf single
eseh, WIN " same clsas u sydHansa ne Courusns