The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-21

saic A"H ID VI AHuCtA 6cHoI0l use. AH00-
deckers are undergoing the iron improve
ment, with other alterations looking to
speed and mobility. Staunch old ships
are being razed, with dense metal plates,
and furnished with the best and most
powerful engines. Several wrought iron
vessels, Of huge dimensions and won
derful strength, are on the ways, for
what unusual service only the Powers
that be know. Four of this formidable
class have already been finished. 1fim-
penetrability can be attained to by hu~
man skill, these vessels will haveit; but
there is no unity of opinion as to their
practical efficiency.
"The friends Of the Federals, here,
say they have, or will have, secured this
desideratum-invulnerability- their
new iron vessels. much doubt it. and
think it more than likely that the neces-
sites of the war and the hurry -scurry
Of over-eager contractors has foiled, and
will foil, their hopes and plans in that
important particular. Moreover, they
have been in the habit of getting from
our foundries whatever is essential to it,
and they are not allowed to get any
more-except the refuse of our own
navy, and to that their foes would make
them welcome. All the new linc-of-
battle ships of France, as well as Eng
land, are built of timber, cased in iron
but they are adapted to great speed
The main advantage we seek to secure
in these is not so much impregnability
as perfection in other qualities-great
mobility and stability under pressure,
an immense stowage, ample fighting
room, an unyielding platform for the
guns, and such construction as must Sc
cure the completcst hardness in &C
| ton.
Notwithstanding the surprising trans
formation in naval architecture, superin-
duced by your war, and suggested by
the late Russian war, the Surveyor Of
the British Admiralty still declares that
until it shall have been satisfactorily as
certained that the great length which is
necessary to high speed under steam
alone do es not materially interfere with
the ready performance of the evolutions
which may be required of men of-war
under any circumstances, it would not
be prudent to depart otherwise than
gradually, and after sufficient experience,
from the dimensions and forms Of the
ships which have been found to possess
every good property. This has been
tested in every recent instance of new
vessel, and has led to the adoption Of a
system which the Lords of the Admiralty
do not choose to disclose, but Of which
our naval proficients speak with proud
confidence.
The writer gives the following reasons
for going into these naval particulars:- -
because the extraordinary naval energy
of England, just now at peace, is very
significant; because the Naraz and
Military Gazette, semi~official paper,
has lately been taking great pains to hold
the naval pretensions of the Federals up
to ridicule; because the North American
squadrons are being changed, and all the
less-trusted vessels are being sent to do
duty far from the American coast; be-
cause the Federals show they expect
something and, on the principle that
whom the gods would destroy they first
make mad they are irritating us and
thwarting France to precipitate that
something; because, in naval war
against France and England, or either,
they could, at tpresent, make only a short
and it would be spirited, resistance;
because where the Federals think them
selves strongest they are weakest, and
where they think they are acting most
wisely they are acting most foolishly;
because coming events cast their sha-
dows.' If any one Of these 'becauses'
suggests nothing to you of itself, atleast
the facts give you are not worthless in
themselves" In addition to these facts,
the Notifications proceeding in Canada
| have their significance. The United
States must not expect either England