The New York herald., 1867-04-25
HAPolEoM's IRoM-clAps.


Active Naval RroDaRasions-Fear Iron-Clads
Building at Cherhssrg-Size and Msdel Of
the Ships-Thc Hull of the Alabana-Whas
Became Of Her Chreneneterss-Tresp fron
Msxics, dc.
CaxRsouH0, April II, 1857.
wrote you some weeks since from Rochefort giving
account Of the great preparations for something in
progress In the naval arsenal Of thas port Works Of
the Same character being carried here and pressed
with activity which must lead ono 10 believe that the
Emperor is Of the opinion that he may have need Of
powerful iron-clad army within the coming year.
Four iron-cad vessels in course Of construction
here and order received few weeks since from
the Minister Of Marinenavy, that they should be hur
ried to completion within the present year.
Ihavs been to-day all the splendid dockyard, in
which workmen are swarming like ants, and have Wis.
tied all the vesselz
The first is q RAM with spur and double screws in
her size and general appearance very much like the
rebel Stonewall.
The next is the Sufren, frgate Offering some pecu
arities Of construction, which, being experimental
are highly interesting She vessel Of four thousand
TONS intended TO carry sixteen heavy guns these
are placed eight in each side, in tower which
rises about twelve feet above the deck being even with
the sides OF the vessel and amdshps and about twenty
feet in length This, like the hull s built vf timber
foot thick and is to be cased with iron plates Of
inches in thickness The casing stops at two feet below
the water line.
Fore and aft OF the centre turret extending TO the
bow and sern and rising up to the height the
tunet itself is wall Of iron plate half an inch in thick
ness intended to be Of sufficient strength to
kerry and break the force Of the when sailing
When action, however, these sides TO be taken
decks will be but four and ha6 feet above the water
line, the turret alone Offering mark for the shots Of
the enemy.
tons each buit upon precisely the same plan the
uren and each to carry six guns All Of these vessels
have spurs The corvetes are christened the Jeanne
D'Arc and the Ataante, aud are built sharp, and in
tended for great speed.
large transport is also in process Of construction
here.
The hull Of the Alabama sunk three years ago. in her
fight with the Kearsarge, has oated in about miles
the than whore she went down. and where
In atty fathoms Of water No attempt has ever
been made to raise her, and as she now lies
In French waters this could not be done without
the permission of the French authorities. short time
ago this permission applied for by ship builder
here and his application being referred to the minister
of Marine IL was refused. II IS doubtful however,
whether she could be raised, and unlike
y that would pay TO raise her, IL she could be- All
tcles OF value in her. including the large stock OF chI
nometcrs, which Captain Semmes amused himself by
keeping In sight aud motion n his cabin trophies Of his
prowess were, II is well known, taken ohs Alabama
cs.ng matter for the Uned States government 20 toe
up the progress and fate Of these same chronometeTs
plundered from her unprotected citizen sailorss
The French authorities refused TO permit them 20 be
brought shore and delivered Captain Sommes pro-
posed NJ Bonns the quasi Consul OF the rebel coned
Two English yachts wcre on that night lying in the
roads-the Deerhound and the Hornet fhe part which
the former played in the next days fight we'll known
but presume that is not so generally known that the
Hornet with English captain, put 10 the day be-
fore fight for the English coast and that since then
the chronometers have not been seen.
The transport Cher arrived few days since from
Vera Cruz, with number OF officers and men OF the
Mexican eypeditionary corps They remain mere but
few days, and then shipped on to Afrca-vcry much
10 their disgust