The New York Herald Newspaper, March 12, 1862, Page 2

IRON-CLAD SHIPS. Their Great Value as Vessels-of-War. The Great Trial Battle Between the Monitor and Merrimac. The New Trou Ships Building in the United States. eee WHAT ENGLAND AND FRANCE ARE DOING. &e., THE PILOT OF BERLAND. The Cumberiend and Gistanee from exch other at Newport's News—about Uhre hundved yarda apart. This wason Saturday last. At about half-past eleven A. M. the rebel steamor Mer: i- mac came in sight, and we wereall on the alert, watching ber movements. There was-not very much surprise ox, ‘Pressed, as she had been expected for some days. The were beat to quarters almost immediately, and every preparation made for active resistance. The Captain of the frigate, Commander Radford, ‘was not om board, being then occupied on @ Cours of Inquiry on board the Roanoke. In his ab- ‘wone thé command was aasumed by Firet Liovtevant George U. Morris, Executive Officer. As soon as thy Morrunac got within one mile of the Cumberland we Sponed fice upon her from our ten-inch pivot guns and @ur rifled cannon. Some of the shote struck her, and others passed and felishort. She paid no attention what- ‘ever to our firing until she got near upto the Congress, hen she fired into her. The Congress immediately re- Gurned the compliment by discharging a whole broadside, foliowed by another. She continued on her course, still ‘Bring at the Congress, but secming not to care much for her, and om coming much nearer paased by her and made direct for the Cumberiané, under a full head of eteam. On approaching sufficiently near she fired one shot at us, Which kitlod five men and cut away our main rigging, @ammock netting, &e The Cumberland at once replied by Gring into her most vigorously. The Merrimac then drow off Gor a chort distance, rounded to aad run intous, Gtriking oson the port bow, backing off again and @ring into us rapidly. We continued ail the while pouring shot an@ shel! ogainst her from eur nine-inek’ guns and ten-inch pivots, without pro- ducing ang effect on her whatever.. The Cumberiand ‘tow began togink. The iron monster had only ran into TEMENT OF THE GUM, white Gring occasional’ shots into’ ur, killing four shot. The cockpit waz men, and poor felfows maimed scattered over the upper, gun and Stun Our mem continued: working ‘Bid Aghting thoir gunsin the most gallant manner. Our forward magarine was soon filled with the water which ‘was rushing into the ship, so that it became outirely weeless. The best order, under the circumstances, pre- wailed, but the cries of the wounded were dreadful. At One time « shell burst through (he sick bay or hospital, ‘Kiting four men who were on the sick list and unable to report for daty, At inst the water rushed ioto the gun deck ports, and it was secn that the ship would Bot Moat mach longer. She was now all down by the head, aad going {ast to the bottom. The boats were therefere ordered out, and with difienlty brought abongeids. It was, however, almost impossiie for the men to get from the gun deck to the spar deck, but some of them climbed into the rigging, and others sprang over” board as the ship was settling out of sight. Fveryboay were maturally endeavoring to reach the boats; some Ay or sixty men were seen Boating and ewimming about, oatchiag at spars." The rule now was every ove for himseif. Quite a number were crushed by the efter pivot gan, which rolled about in a daugerons manner The Merrimeo, seoing that she had Gnished up tu* Camsberiand, then drew off Gnsily and returned to tee Congress, Gring at her as she approached: The two other rebel steamers—the Jamestown and Yoktows—were now seen coming down jhe James river, and soon after opened fire on the fort and on the ships. ‘The Congress bad been fighting gallantiy al! the while, bat now having had about one hundred men killed, and Peing at the same time so riddled with shot that she was rapidly sinking, was taken In tow by the @uaboat Zouave, but the firtag still continuing, she hoist- ed the white fieg aud surrendered. rate steamer then went slongside and took off the officers as prisoners, aliowing feave in their boats. Lieutenant Smith, who commanded the Congress, was killed, with ® number of other officers and men. Only officers were mate pri soners. ‘The ofticers of the Cumberland efered considerably. ‘were at anchor at some A Contede- | water batiery must be mentioned that the Cougross was not do- atroyed by the rebels, but by twe Union nallors who ordore of Gonoral Mansfield, ; STATEMENT OF ONB OF THE CREW OF THE CUMBERLAND. Cas Butuan, Newrour’s News, March, 0, 1863. At Inst I bavo news to write you. My Inat totter from on board the Cumberland, aa woll as ai! that bave pre- coded it from this point, must bave been devoid of in teroat eatirely, for, since the capture of Hatteras, with the exception of the little escapade of the rebel steamer Patrick Henry, some time since, the old ship bagaecn nothing im the way of gervice. Yesterday morning, about tea o’clook, ® suddea excitement was observabie on board our gal- lant vessel. For myself, I was not keeping vory good loukoat, as I was not at tho time dotail- i fur that service, and sailors do not uaually attend to more (han is required of them. Soon came the booming of signal guaa, and in @ remarkably short space for aotion.”” Then I had time to look around me and ace what it ali meant. Away off in the direction of Sewall’s Point was seen four or five distinot volumes of emoxe, and shortly after, with the aid of & small glass, [saw what appeared to me to be the roof of a house moving along in the water, on @ line nearly parallel with the changed ils courte, However, and pointed ita bows di- fesly towards us. Our guns were all shotted, every man was at his post, and word wont around the ship: ‘That's the Merrimac: Thia fact, however, seemed to abbitjty, of our vesset-egp. @ peortar characteristic on board the Cumberiand. How well founded thsidoa was you will s90n gee. It wappow, about two o’slook, and another Movement ef surprise was observable. Another Proef that sorrows ‘come in battalions.” Another signal gun from the shore, close to us thistime, Turning eyes up James river we saw our quondam frieud, the Patrick Henry (tho old Jamestown of the New York and Richmond line), accompanied by the Yorktown—a vessel that has been her consort in her more peaceful pursuits, These last vessels, armed to the teeth, steamed down and joiced (he smoking, queer-lookivg fleet below, Thoy Scon begun to get uncomfortably near. We wero al! anxiously waiting for the command to “give it to them,” At last an order was civen, and two of our heaviest “playthings” spoke out their Comptiments and sent their to be making for us.particularly, To our intense disgust: not to say astonishment, the two solid iron mossengers, after haying been #0 wel! directed ag to strike our an. tagorist fairly and squarely, ricocheted from her roof and disappeared im the distance beyond. On she came, without returning the compliment, and we, oocasionally vebei batieries there, This move! looking veaiel s00a| Faith im the power and oficiency, dot 10 say impcag* ‘and even then only ono man ate te ball OM: by one feet wide. ‘Ihe @urret is a revolving, ‘bomb proof fort, and two eloven-inch gone. is protected by eight ng eo that mo one spot is there The guna move im forged ‘turret, tho carriages made tot thom accurately. These guna wore furnished with four bimdged wrought fron shot by the Novelty Works, each ball weighing one huadred and eighty-four pounds, and coat forty Bevon deliars each, ‘The success of tho the Morrimac, w renlercd the fact that ale noble aground, alse the Bt, deed fortunate "to waa in sande maces The Two New Iron Vossels-of-War Now Build- ing im the United States. THE [RON-CLAD GUNBOAT MYSTIO. ‘Tho new fron-clad gunboat Mystio, which isone of the three tron-clad vessels provided for by Congresa come four months ago, is ordered to be fAitted’out for sea with all possible spced. Sho is at present at Greenpoint ia Process of domplotion, and will be ready to receive hor Armament in about two weeks. Shoe was built ln Mystio, Conn., and will be commanded by Capt. Alfred Taylor. The length of this vessel is about two hundred feo Substantial respects to the monster, which stillappeared {| OV@r “all. with & breadth of nearly shirty-clght,end twelve and half feet depth of bold. She would draw eloven foes of water. Over the spar deck is eeccond deckincloged by sides curving inward, and piated with half inch iroa, ao that the whole presents an appearance vory maoh like that of Commodore Foote’scratt. Kx- capting the upper deck, the vessel Bag the appearance of Giving here taste of our metal, until within, Iehould | 42 Ordinary gunboat. The prow is sharpend aarrow, judge, » hundred yards of us, when she sudden!y yawed ‘and can do service by running down wooden boats. Its eround?, and we had no more than time tocount five gunson hor site before their contents came crashing through our s. We gave her as many agshe seat, with some of interest, but it did not seem to affect ber in the slightest, Then the Cougress (which was li tog fur ther down) and the water battery of heavy aad jiads en the Point, commenced playing upon the monater in a y whieh must have given those on board a very gued idea of a very severe hai,storm. But, bless you, the only notice she took of them was to occastonally throw = shell or (wo into oF Over the campe at the News. Shi entirely ignored the existence of the Ameriony frigate Congress. In jess time tnam 2 have been writing the last ten lines Oor antagdnist steamed around and cameup to wiihin forty: yards of us, dnd gave us another of those terrible broadsides, Tho abricks of the wounded were heart read! shape, however, is similar to that of an ordinary vessei, instead of projecting below the water, as is the case with most other inventions of the king. ‘The sheathing along her sites to the hull ina horizoa- tal position parallel to the shear is three and a quarter inches thick, being two layersof iron attached. Ibis in the shape of bars, each twenty-four six inches long and three or four inches wide. After being rolied, they are ‘wrought (ma sigzag form, sectiozaily, ao that (hey look vay much ilroad bare. This form is called by maohlaleted “obsic,’’ as while one edge rests fiat upoa the side of Ga Pabkal, ANN te ibere screwed to it, the other edge bends upward, and-forming tw5 right A8gtee, overlaps part of the bar next below it. The bars, which are put oa lengthwise, are also. comnceted by a curious system of grooves and tdngues, somewhe’ imilar to thos® in Moor and coiling beards. They are OF | {nig to hoar, butt a setior in action has to time to think of | Sastoned to ihe vessel at lotervalsef fourteon inches; by S00n | snything but bis wort, and such of oxr guus as were not |. sro bolts, and whoa in eaili ‘trim her artuament will disabied still kept up theie-@re. tut our rival now} be four fess below her water line, The cutwater, or Adopted different taoties. Drawing off & fow hundred | WHat is supposed to be the steam ram, is efeoiid iron, yards, she put on a full kend of efeam aud canre directly about six by three inches aquere. atus, for the purpose of runaiog us Gowa, She stouck our port side, a9 noar as I could judge’ (fot { was throwa, Comptetely across the deck from the foree of the ool: ‘The Mystic was originally intended for efghieen guas, and that aumeer of portholes were accordingly mado; but the tmtention bas been changed and only six guns lision), about opposite the foremast, making © tremendoug | Wil! be carried None of the portholes, however, will be cavity below our wator line. The water oame ing in, in apite of all efforte to prevent and it was som ooised around that sinking. Thie rnmor hed hardip when (be monster had disengaged again coming at ueatibe tep of her speed. There was no escaping. of course, but al! who were left alive and uninjurea managed to seize something wherewith to wiibetand the force of the blow. On she triking us ia the waist. The crash was terrife Tho good oid ship careened over fearfully; men, guns, everything, were tossed abous the deck promisouously- Many wore injured; and as the rebels gould seo, ae weil as we, that we could do them litte harm, now directed is attention to the batteries ou shore aad the Coa. gress. OF course every ene on our ship sought per- sonal safety. Many of the bosts had been to. jured, but im those left guck of ss could be readily got at were pieced. And all who could get im or around the boate wer hurried to theshore. As for me, { climbed ap in the rigging, with many others, iy tt, we wore end was almost displaced (rom my seat when the ship builders ie evi i gavenfmal lurch. At last, however, ont from the wharf at Newport's News, aad we were all picked up and carried in safety to ferva firma. Of conrse ai! was excitement and alatm on shore. Some of ns aseigted in working the heavy guns of the jut the most of the defunct Camberiand’s crew had had “enough fight” for one day. Soon afier the men 0 | we got on shore we saw (he Congress hoist a white flag age token of surrender. Shortly alter six, or betweee that hour and seven, (ne whole rebel Geet departed in the direction of Craney Istand At abont ten o'clock leat Bight we heard, at our camp bere, of the arrrval of the Monitor, and in the cabin in Avsong those Etlled was the Chaplain, J... Lenhart, who | wc: tam writing thie, 1 cam tell you, the iatetligence used (o reside om Staten Island. He waz not heard of alter the fight, and ie therefore supposed to have been drowned Master's Mute Jolin M. Harrington, of Mostou, had tis bead shot of. Ali the poor fellows who were wounded went down with the ship, os they were (otally unable (oe belp them. ocives. + The Nght between the Monitor or Briceson battery and the Cumberland was very exeiting, The formor veers! was in no ways injured; but there is no doubt that the Merrimac hed two or three holes put into her port nide- + The meo on the Cumberland (at leat those who were wnable to help themselves from their terrible wounds), eli sank before any effort could be mate to get them of. But the good old frigate went down with the Union flag fly- éng, a8 no man on board would hawl it Bown, officers and man Boclaring that (hey ‘ould go down before thay wowld srrender Oo the anme night the flag wes nailed to her foretop. mas, which rémained above water after she sank, by ie seilegs who left specialiy to do eo, and ts ati) Beating there, in defiance of the rebels. Doving the whole engagement between the Cumberland nd the Merrimac there was bat one man seen on the letter vessol. He ceme out of her hatch, aad a7 soon as hho was seen a shot was firod at him, which eut him completely in two, sending hie head fiying in ope ditection, and bis lege and part of thie body in another. When the Oumberiané was dows the mon on board cheered tus tiy, as they also did when the robs! flag and flagstait were shot away {rom on board the Merrimac. There wore a0 cheers nor shouts on board the Merrimac, which 4 mag be Binted, in & screw sisamer, completely covered. The other two secesh steamers had French be olne tbe recot! of their pieces, Several attompte were made to pick (hemp off with rife shots, but with what succea Pression at ail upom betetithough we gave ber was vevetved with (hreé bearty cheers, During last night "the Congress was burned. Whether she was Gred by the rebels or by our own forces from the Point here I Rave uot learned. Of the Aght this forenoon, between the Merrimac and the Monitor. 1 saw tut little, but heard enough to satisfy mo that the antagonist of our good old ship inet ber match and more, too. As | had lest mz lit te gloss, at (he sinking of the Cumberiand, | bad no means of seeing the interloper driven off ju such excellent ste by Lieutenant Wor den a ig brave crew. bd Your regular correspondent, who has, of course, bet or means of ascertainiug the facts in the ase thas J, ‘Will Geveribe tie las! sation infinitely otter THE CONSTRUCTORS OF THE MONI1UR. SHR 18 A TROJAN INSTITUTION—ACKNOWLRDGMBNT OF GENERAL WOOL—TBB LITTLE VESSEL SAVED VORTRESS MONROE. (Prem the Troy Times, March 10. We are bighiy gratified (o be able to stale that the fron-elad steamer Monitor, which achieved such decided fnceess over the rebel feet and the iron steamer Merrt- mac, at Fortrese Monroe and Newport's News, ou Satus- y, is, in respect to her mechanioal construction, ‘Trojan institution, and that to two of eur most promineat @!tizena ia due the henor of sending ber forth, armed equipped in euch a way #9 to dest back any force woioh the cebele mirht send against her lude to Mons. Joho A. Griswold and John F. W eytalled only by tl ag inventor of the Moni. tor. Mesere. Griswold and Winslow made the contract with the pment for the constructon of the yeorel, and with Captain Eriesson and Mr. 0, §, Bushnell, of New Haven, agreed that she should pase under the enemy's fre before acceptance by the authori. ties, How admirably and suect ly she her. self in the unequal combat--seading two of the three rebel ships off, disabting the iron clad Merrimec and com- pelliug her 60 return to Norfolle for repairs—ta evidenced in the Atare a. le dearianecrives oe in whi all the glory of defeating the eusmy's ship*,and of say- tog theres in ipton Roasts, as well as protecting the Tort itgelf. a trinmph wes never before achieved Ericaton, as We have stated, was the in- ventor of the vensei, led to wes ae throu, we wuien” on feotnred at the works of . and at the Rensseiser Iron with other portions of her machi. ery and hat readered her and vacouquerabie monster aha is. All hover to Trojan rs capital, and te Captain Ericsson, bet inventor, also ed the old frigate Princeton, the firet screw ateam- Awonty broadsides of goitd shot and shell Crom our gine | ghip-of-war, with her machinery placed entirely below 9nd toe inch guna. Our oftoars behaved very bravely all through the sovion, losing everything they bad, and escaping only | hove waver, while ¢ with their ives and the clnthing they had on at the time. ‘The Cumberland sank tm water avout fifty-four feet deep. the steamer Whiiden saved a groat number of those ng lo Lite of spar and lo0ve Woot, The engagement inated for shout two who [oul Into (he water and were o! boars, cntil the Oumberiand Orally want town with her Ange ying. motive Uo engines. The Mouitor mi two verssels—the one be said to consist eventing other is Berg fuel, sloras, i Ketornaliy ne snatay’s quae a yo} rising but and ye yer ac SemlGattohe for she presouts to the fire of + about eighteen inches above t Gvor, and 9 gore of Martello tower, twenty feet in diatasier, and ten feet ‘The amoko stack dering action is lowered Into the ft being wade With Velsvo>pio siden, ‘The hulk in sharp at onda, the bow projcobing and coming tow pomn? at an angle of eighty degrees to the cortinal ling. the woter line, and was the frat to employ caloric oe, jotnod to the by permanent!y closed. as the guns wii! be 6o mounted as to de eastiy moveable, aad cap be fred from the most con. venient port. Eleveo Mek columbiads and abeil guns time to go | Will ve used Her cannon @ete relied partly at the Albany Iroo Works and party@sPiensssiaer's worke. Her machina ry is eimilar to thatou the iron battery Moniter, con- sisting of two horizontal subular boliers and two horizon. tal condensing engines, and waa build at th a foundry Of Mr. Delamatza, im West Thirteenth ai vot. THE NEW PHILADELPHIA IRON.CL&D Pavapeirmia, March 10, 1862. Her History, Armament, Iron Armor, Crew, State of Hor wardness, Names of Coustructors, Engines, Boilers and Dimensions—Increased Actotty by Reason of the New from Fortress Monvos, de. ‘The digastrous newe from Fortress Mouroe has had an alarming effect upon all classesof the people, aud ba Swakoned a renewed clamor for the rapid construction of irow-clad vessels. The effect upen government ship im the fact that, despite the severe rain of today, the force at work upon the new iron-clad Kensington (rigate wae largely iacresned, ead operations pushed forward with uawonted rapidity. THE MYSTIC FRIGATE AND THK PRILADELPHIA FRI- Gare COMPARRD. The new frigate now being constructed at Mystic: Comn., will weigh 3,000 tons, and will be of 1,000 tons burden, She will draw not less than ten ner moro than sixteen feet of water; will carry two eighty-pownder pivot rifled guns, aud tweive rifled thirty two pounders ‘The Philadelphia frigats will be of 3,500 tons burden, will draw Ofteen feet of water, will be 200 feet lon ty feet bea iwenty-ve feet hold; will have three decks, will garry several deck pivot gunz, and sisteen additional guns of eleven-inch bore. She will, (bere fore, be not only the largest iroa-olad vessel in course of construction, bul ous of the largest vessqis in the Ame rican oevy * BARLY COMPLETION OF THE PHILA DELP AI& PRIGATA. ‘The contractera aad ehipbatiders are straining every nerve to accomplish éheir labor at an sariy al present the vesse! ig in the bands of thejoiners, who have Inid (he whole hall, keoi and Buiwarks, and are at work upon (he decks.and interior arrangements. She lies i the yard of Cramp & Sou, sub-contractors, towering avove all the surrounding buildings and resetying nearly Uhelength of a block of thecity front. The yard ts literal: ly alive with ship carpenters, and @ steam mili bee been. erected cloge beside her to facilitate the sawing of timber and the Boisting of planics, &o., to the veesat SHAPE OF THE Frigate. Under no ciroumstegoes ceo « shot strike (he hull of the vow frigate direet. She te» convex upon the whole exterior part,and the balls of an adversary will glanee harmlessly from ber oblique armor. Te sides of the ship have an angie of thirty degrees from three feos above the load lines, and she wil! be armed with a sharp iroa bowaprit, tostrike or pieree preparatory to board. jag Orsinking. Her endder will aiso be protested, and ber apper docks will be situaret under she slope of the. curved and plated bulwarks, «0 thet the orew cap ve Sheltered as w ‘au impregnable roof, j THR BONT ARMOR, ‘Tha iron plates, whieh aré to constitute the armer of the vessel, are being daily -twrned out from the Bristot Forge Works on the Delaware river, and from one of the iron mille at Pittsburg. A large quantiiy of them are now im this city. They aro fifteen feet long, twenty~ eight andea half inches wide ead four sed a balf veteran ascribes to her | Inches thick. They will be bolled to the vessel, but the bolts will not come through to the exterior surface of abe plates, The plates will be cupneciad by tongues of iron fy vossel im the service of this or any ether nation. | frting in grooves, the grooved plates alternating with the tongued platew, The whole weight of the iron oasing will ‘Of | de soven hundred and Afiy tons. The heaviest plate yet covers | completed weighs six (housand nine hundred and eighty- eight poands, the |ightest plate six thousand two bundred end forty-eight pounds. Upwards of two hundred plates the formidable | wil! equip the whole vessel. One hundred mee alous are working upon this irom armor, and ove luindred and forty tons of coal & week are cOnstimed at the forges The veasel will he | plates oncasing the baw will oxtond oight feat beyond the wooden Boll, There will be no bolts, angles, projec tions or crevices upon the surface of ti tmsr when MACHINERY, SPRRD AND ORAW. The frigate wilh hove ¢W0 powgrful ongines and coe large brass = propetior Wheel, four boilers and «68 “blower,” or second = smoke stack, She will tfavel at the rate of tom knots an bour, saa will carry & jrew of one hundred and fifty mon. Bor machinery is boing constructed by Mr, 0. Ke. ‘Wood, Ohief Rngineor, and Heury Hoover, Construotor at tha Nagy Ward, Tho plates were demlaned by J.P, Mor. ‘Tho firmof Jenks & at Brideaburg, commenced tnot wock the fulfiment of @ ooatract of fifty thousand Spring@eld rifles, The vow mackimory, modelled from the governmant machinery at SpriagQold, oot tho Grm nearly $200,000, They charge the govorame@nt twenty, and remark upon the sum asked this year— uy , which was £800,000 loss than was asked last year. Alluding to tho growth of the estimates, bo iasiet- 0d that, without to tho limit of 1857, we thee ra iret emloes Cote Fre appeared to him at the time to be e: - ed. His noble friend the Seoretary ships and eleven floating batteries, Serine reisele—making be moe la made Ot for sea was then insisted that we to make correspond- log preparatious., His noble friend actually read out tho ames of these twenty-seven shiya, and finished wy osk- rod whother any more ioformation was wanted. ile ¢ Ir. Liadeay) was. ao staggered with that ataioment of ia nObIe friend that he could not oppose any request that we should place eurseiveson an equal footing with Frauoe as to ivon ships, although be novec had the most remote idea that France had intended to invade our shorea (Bear, bear! from Mr. Williams.) ‘The Kan- peror of the French had too much common eense te quarrel with ss Hoe had a ge Sore . main! wi as, altron, it was aal would @ quarrel with ws in our hour of need ‘What was ino case, however? te were im troulle across the Ailanlic, he proved hivaslf owr beat friend; and of the noble tre the Bead ofthe goeroment has pret ol bord at the head of t a deal to do with ihe veleaseof Messrs. Mason and Stidell, he believed that that great and masterty despatch of M. Thourenel had abntas, much lo do with thew delwey az the wast Meets we were ing to those shoves. But wan It true that France had the numbor of vesseis resented: by li noble friend? He (Ate. Lindsay) had. that morn- ing received au accouat of the French navy on whic he placed reliance, Crom wich it appeared that thors were ie Gloire, L’lovincible, La Normandie, the Magenta, the Solformne aud another. L'lavinothle and La Normandie bad takea trial trips, but tho Magenta and Soiforne would not be ready to iake their trial trips for the noxt the tou ships which thi onthe. Where, thon, wore bad eae aot of Wn , 80s One af theme would be Jaun Dresen' 3 Hom, wo nland oar. vest We aad the too’ Warrior class gfoal— & haivtor and ths Prince; the Defence and Resirancs afloat, and two more were Dullding of @ aize between the Warrior and the Bees, ee ee eta ‘at Chatham, avid five sh > Sor which the pan Ty plait x14 cconrested to the sats mates last year. ‘There were sve iron wl? O & size larger the Warrior, for which £259,000 a. a hore were built or building eighteen cf these lurge versie, of & of 66,090 tous; France) if sho 124 qt b ts commiete; only bavo a tonnage of abs tons. We bad mow ready four iron cared vessels, * bing 16,000 tens, as com~ pared with the four tron cas“@ vessels of France, rote Sonting 12,000 tons. En, we greatly in adver? Yeance, and, therfore, no on to fear, He wished toknow what was going be done with the £12,000,000. No portion of, it gould he eeqaired for tim. ‘bee, for of iont wooden ships, carrying Grepty guns and upwa then elf Ge world combined. was ta be considered our limit wheu building was to stop, Lecaune, considering our present povition, hegaw no necessity for it. Although £1,000,000 was grauted last year for timber ta take & r reRerve, as the noble lord had then said, £600,000 more was now naked for the same purpose, What wasitfor? Many of the ivon-cased veaseis were to be built in private yards, it could not, therefore, be for them, unless the Ad- miraity intended lo supply the private builders with wood. He had no bone of reducing the estiuisie one farthing by shese protests, for he bad protested for years with tho same effect; but be would, aevertheless, stil! continue Lo proteat against an expenditure which caicula- tion showed to be at tha rate of £25 per minute. Mr, Baxtex coacurred with the nonorable gontieman who hadi just rooumed his vewt in contending that while t peace with ait the world, it became neces: that og and cogent reasons slrould be given for aa enormous expenditure on ihe navy as thai proposed. The right hoporadle a opporite, tha momber for Droitwici? (Sir SPatiugton) bade good reason for asking av increase in the pavy oatimaios when he was in o@ics, because, to nae the right honorabie gentioman’s own words, the mavy was thea Lew mig (Hvar, hear.y Since then, too, 1 consequence Gtorsy oragzerated statements witty regard (o the paval preparations of France, the fesliog of the covatry Bad been snci¥ that the govern- ment ob very weil afford to reduce our naval forces. But be wished these points ahswered now, and he wished to know what bad become of fia Gioive, what of the Mageots, (he Soiterino sud the otnernonie veasels- of. war of w! they had heard se mucr tas segvion. He wes told (possibly, if it was a0t true. by men who wore tie victiins of Iinperial cnartmg) that LaQloire mas triseawwor thy, and that the other nevo vessel tier? progresming bud stowiy: Urol the maritime conscription of Franck wow each yoor more vneuccersful and becoming more bittarty das: Liked by thn prophe, and more difficul? to ‘work in Rrancer that the martime marine wor steadily mid condinnally om the decrveas:, av had been so for an -mber of yrar?, and that in the Mediterranean, which sorug people had called aac iake, there were more British vesaois: thaw nosl the French had informed aa to theas facta louse of Commons to . But ho required seme. Unag it og 1:9ON these points, ‘The Hon as thee resobved ileal into Committee: of Sap. pir Lord C_Pa@ut--Befure 1 proceed with the navy ostt: mates | wisirte auswer afew of the remarks thei bave } faitew from.ray honorable friends (Me. Lindaayand Mr.- Baxter). Lam-sorry to have to ailiide to the condition of the Vrenah navy so particnlatly, for |amafenid (hat these disenasions have often ied t9 ii! feeling on the other side Of the water. [tis, therefore, rable to refrain frum them, more especieliy as the public of this country vane every reason (o belione thal the French Rinperor har ated most honorably. ‘the Lonorabdle gentiemen seem, vy their observations, (o doudt, not the capacity of her Majesty's government, but their information, aad think we have been deceived. lam bewnd totell honors bie friends that emery word that wan stated inst year, with regard to Me Brench naval forver, i tene (“hoar, hewr,”* from Sie J, Pakington.) “Brery oneot the ips amit. Sin of thenare afloat, The Magenta and Solferinu are both aflowl. Mr. Lixpsat.—Bub aot in commission, Lora C. Pacer. —Trvie, but they are afloat and coulit he: put to sea immediately. (Hear, hear.) 1 am perfecily ready to belleve (hal the progress ii dowt- yards in not at prowent great; but do selves and think that the Frene! taiued {n its preseat condition. Fr we are of OD pens wavy, nO affort will be ied that wil! condues to that oud. (Hear, leas.) [now addroxa inyself to the subject immediately before the House. ‘The na yertimatee of 1862-83. a8 propose®, amoant to £21,794,305. The estimates of 1361-62-—Ubas iwof the present year (including £250,000 as » supple- meatary estimate, which the Hoase granted jast year for iven-cased ships, and likewise tocliding £366,588 whiok was votedafow days ngo)—amounted to £12 640,588, A decrease ip consequeutly shown in next years ‘estimates, an compared with (hose of the past year, £446,283." The principal cause of the decrease ia, first & diminution in the number of men, to which I shall presently advert; secoud!y a reduction ‘he sm which is necessary for the purchase of stores: and, thirdiy, » Fedvetion in the sum necessary for th huge of stain, engines. There !#a covsiderabie reduction im the trans port vote whieh haé re'erence to the transport of the array. That wite will be found fo be comrideradly reduced: but lef me here Male tha! ip (hat vote {+ mohudd amore $2,000 for the paying off of the ransporta which have lat: been sent on the Americun = om. 4 beileve, them, that 1 may truly state that w' Utvet £42,000 ie pat whole expenditure for shat expedition wht ve eomplate, A come to that volo the Honse will be gind to axvent to (he in- crease in that vote, for tt chows that we are bringing gradually togetber a mont veluadie roserve. (Hoar, bear.) 1 now turn to our [roe-cased ships--it will be tniarestiog that I should give some information as to their progress, ‘Some honorab! Joman askod what was the cost of the Warrior. ing all but the armament, the cont of that ship was £864 885, complete aud ready for on An hosorable Mxwegr—What is (heoost of the arma. ’ past Lord ©, Pacer--Her armament, bosides, is to onstabont constr notion £18,000. We have now tn course Nine cen afet during the prow joer." (Het, wear) have eleven afloet year 7 . In the coarne of 1963 ‘here Will BO twalve ailoal, thet one more; and in 1864 thore will be ’ ined dition, there will be » new sbip, provided the committee 10 the propogal which we shall lay before them. Tf the ‘committee desire it 1 can give tho tonnage and horse or connected with these vorsela. The first olags of ships, comprising the Agincourt, the Miuctawr, fed the Nortiiwinberland, weee agreed Uo last August, and are in process of bullding,end will bo roady im 164 ; they are 400 feet tong ; expected they will obtain & ed of fourteen kuols, and thoy wilh be of 6,621 tous, ea ships are of pedhliar build, as they cavey Ureit = iron right round, The Warrior aad other iron Ships of that clans aro only partially plaied up to & oor ‘tein distance from the bow and atern, bul Of the largagt class ereto be pl yw and Samuel Whiibréad, txq.—went on board the Ha: to witnose the expeciments, and to inspect the cupols shield. Unfortanately ,. however, a dease fog prevented demansiresed = how cond be worked in ibe sivnit givem apace: Their lord- sbipa oxpremsed their ant om Monday shown a novel but most perfect aad beau! ful porteait of General MeMielian white wtk, oulirely by bau, the acitet Deing Mr. Ciaries Mayor, the well known embroit Sytns & Bri gold osilion, » doserves grcat young Commander -ia-(hief £0 up aod ake a [ook at it, mont held an interesting these youssia right round, ‘Tho nog clang of yousols Qounnrines the Werclar, ihe Miaok right round——those will be of 4,45 toas— Mgt “ahiga to be’ langtaanod twelve or Mr, Connt—Whas ts the estimated spoedt Pager—Tho Prince Consort and Dale donin ines of one thousand horse power,and & ‘ Royal 7 totally novel class of vosseis, for which wo ‘propose to ask @ vote in the present ycar. ly will remember the controversy with repeat we construction of Capiain Coles, with respect to which extensive experiments were carried on fast yoar. ‘We put it on an old floating battory—wo tried fring {rom K, ond Sec8. Oring at it. The feed ne it most complete tert wi out ‘Of woak- showing any considerable signs ness. The Admirality have cince gone carefully into the sol caps ry hw ons, nd tye eh 7 and we © phip tocarry sin She ts to be of 2,529 tong, of five hundred horge power, and ia to carry tweive beeech-leading Arinstrong ove guns; A TH bag nary, seat thia report is not official, 0 hip behaved most adnirably, winacsgh She weather waa and reached Lisbon withous as casualties boyond to which every vessel would. abject. and the evidence was such as to show that this vossot ia fit to go round the world. The chief drawback about tho vesso! is that sho docs not steer wolt; but this arises from & mere matter of dotall in the construction, owing to whioh she has not sufficient play (or bolm,aud ‘that is her oaty real serious defect. ‘the Warrior baa herself « raost:wondorful vessel, and T am glad to” to alate these (ote in ovntradic.ion to the swister rumors that have been In circulation. Have atated to the committees some important facts which must de- termine the. fature of our iron fleet, and I may Suppiomont thom by referring to three Proposals on the subject of bow cinay of present vessels have four inch armor plates, with eightecn inches of teak. Afr. Fairbairn ‘pores wot. to havewooten backing at al , but suypedts tron aching. Mr, Scott Reaseli eays tho propapat of Mr. Fatr- bairn is good so far as coucerus the tron backiug Insiead of wood, but he proposes clamps, so that It may not be necessary to perforate the fron. Mr. Samuda saya, “You do vot require tron backing at al!, but morely (bat the bolt should be (hicker end tucorporated with the ‘VIG FAILURE OF CHK WARKION. {From the London Star, Web. 22.) ‘The Warrior, 49, iron is ordered to Portamouth {com Gibraltar. Her Hat of defeota sout honie from Lis- bon is ‘formidable. Jt ta asserted that the atatoment of the ship's laboring heavily snq refusing to anawer bor , on her outward voyage to Lisbon; was leas than the truth, aithough partially contradicted’ by Yord 0, Paget. ‘The Warrtor cont, spite the present, hétie short of halfa million; how much more will the blio have to lay ont on her before rhe wi! “answer hor Bei" How masy more such are wo now baliding? ACOWDENT TO VAF TRON STRAM BAM DEFENCK. {¥rom Up Lopdon jeraid , Fob, 24.) A teat of 3 nl chart was meade on Saturday A tee mecaren as bog eee ram, on ty it apt 05 fares we dr rea ile of bate eo phoad on te above t alongside the Dafonce, ichara mae ot Capt, A. 5 but ting hor distaage, she ran | towards teehee ot a pao that the bower nacuor | was touch! er wide. A vy gwoll-was running ab \¢ timo. i Hified the punbon which catght the wer anchor. The anchor away from the tum- and after being away by tho gunboat re. beudded ‘ae bow of Cho cup, nia the da of which the, the anchor ely pick'd aho'e. Atthis part of ship the iron is only five-cighths of an imok thick. Sue tattnop wont inte barber’ tn. the. evening, oad @ rthed alongside the sheer jeity. Ongeiag in we under- tbat the water casein the aperture. ‘This accid hae sed orasiderabte disoussion and exoltement, hase mandy ted (he. rcerune:s of thas kindof ekip. The aper- ture, which. '* About teen inches has boon filled in with » “eee of of planking and white lead. We hear that 6 piece "he broken iron has been examined Found 66 be indiferm. 47 welded, The Viow was atruckt ® Cow inches above waim mark. Y (From the Ta'40u Pom, Fob. 28.) ‘Phe repatva to the DeConce Will be effected without ho? requiring to bw docked. A pty Of blacksmiths are at work om « float under her bow. everal aitcrations are woggested, among which her caiho.d8 are to be shittod further aft, whiob, it {a thonght, may prevent repetition Of the acvideat wrich bas comsed the damage, ERARNING TO BUILD RON CLAD VESARES, { Wootwich (Feb. 44) correspundence of London vost. } Aweries of experiments, which ave expecied toexteud over asveral days, wil! be comusenced during the present: week at Shoeburyness, for the purpose of testing the beat #vaten of construvting iron-casett vessels. Several immenge target*, representing (he side of an iron-caned frigate, neve been prepared, and these wit! be subjected to the operation of rifled ordnance, Oiie of the targets forwarded from tue works of Messra. Fairbairy t# con- structed entirely of iron, amd is intended to show the practieabilky sud advantage of biiding vouseia iu a similar manner, whilst othorwrepresent the (hickuess of timber aud irom work ef which the Worridr is composed. (Frote the London Saratd, Feb. 24.) ‘We have frequentiy aliuaed 6 the eraoliont mveution by Captais Cowper Coles, whiet | during the past week, hos been tested om buard the oid fourteen.gum stoup Hazard, moored’ at the head of Ber Mayesty’s winlp Live trious at Portsmonth. ‘these exyeriments, tutendet (o teat the practicability of working $wo 110-poander Arm. strong guns witburtiie beehive or cnpola, have been sig- pally wuceosefuil. On Swturday threwof the Lords Com mussioners of the Admiraity——viz: Vice Admiru! Hon. FW. Grey, KC. B; Roar Admiral Charles Faou, €. yi ‘Their lordshipe’made » minnte ide which Usey stood, while counisting 03 Six met~each, and ono captain of the guy, who dirccis the shield, worked the Armstrong, ate ring with tabes to-skow their lordehips the eflect of the: practice, nere perfermed the Dechive with ener the possibility. of drivg. inspection of the shivid, the crows of the gus verious evciaiions within “the and rapidity, and the boge guns. vresision very tty SF APPTODAL oD to mention an imyostans experiment made on We muet pot tmerd thie sbip on the jevivus day, wheabdib Arm. strong, with 14M. charge wd 11040. solid shot, were fired pimnltaneousy ab a target 3,500 yarde- dia {eo from the caupu’a NOt the sitgiles! meonvenience Crowe comoueston or winoke was perceptible: bei the firing of tame two guis, witeh areof the heay'set calibve. cansed the old slvop to toll ceux were fired, when { was Cound tims (he breeching ehackles were strained, whic will be replaced by targer ones Tnraspect 0 the apace and the working of these heavy gtine we might say thete was simple accommodation (he gina Tunoing tw and out of the sef-actiag the greatent sa%0. were six spect tr he atuple aecommods! under thts in gun, bet the tat to work these gu are itied to great eredit, Unis week, rabiy. Several roqnas riage wit addition io the guns’ crews there ha onpols, aid for aH. "th ork inside &! ! ‘The exporinenta well-comt Clay tntewigence. Novms, Pomerat OF THR CoMMANDNRAN-Cipe: We were worked in chenille on rar of 108 Gamal strest exhibition at Meare, No tine and delicate a ‘The portrait roidery has rarel¢ cof the tanal The buttos worket ie ed ta bright us. Mr. Mayor emoriai ef our and early ise erery body to ‘the Sone of Vor, at che Kitt Avenue y evening, aod received (be report of the com. onatibniiop, The cunstivteion provides tha- im oF Asscendents of vitixers of Vermont, reaidt ginity, may Decome members oy Muerte oF tH® Soxs oF Yeon e the will bold a levee atthe Fifth Aveaue Hotel on Wadpesday ovening, at ight o'clock, to receive Vermonters arriving in theaity, hich all Sous ot Verwoat and thete wivse and aengh: tera are oxpecied to be praxeot. Covernor Hoihrank and ante ‘been invited and are expected to be present. Lacrvas wt THe Rev. ¥. ©, Ewan.--Suck as desire te hear our present troubles discussed in an origimal mau, ner abould ettend Rew, £0. Rwar's lecture oa the war ext Woduenday evening, ab Irving Holl. is eloquent oration before the Seventh regiment, ou Wayhiggion’s Birtuday, eas conmidered @ great suceewp, : Recrvuyna Orrice von Tas Bourn, Revit New Town Cavavar.—Lieutenent fistason, of the fourch New York ‘Volunteer cavalry, Baa opened @ rec: ailing station at st ‘owery, Waser a feoent oer iasnod by Goueral Notiolians Persons dontrous of “joining this fas cavalry regiment will now have @ fie bppociuntiy, 4 tht abore inentioned lace by calling at Te Gur Advertising cobimns of thie & Saree saf resolutions adopt. wnpany & (he Sovente 1 od by iment (National Guard), complimantery to iheir late com: mander, Captain Monree. Gis companions aprak of him fo the highest erms, bows ax un satenmed friend and a good offtoer, and conse hip loss 8 deep aliiigtion under the direott: oxhibition aft!!, morrow evening, in the Seventh regi mont drill Lom, over Tompkina Market, The oxb'bit oA 10, oybt will bo qrita jatorsating, wh bechibing to and paying the nits: | Dash OF TAB OAMET Qaune Jyranvey.—The Cadet Light Tofaniry, instructes at tho Tacrywwn military achool, Ao Me, MO. Tricey, will give a grond will take giaoe at balf-past one o'clook in the afternoon, IMPORTANT BAVAL QPERAITIONS. a pan The Capture of Branswick and Fernandina, Prey Official Report of Commodore Dupont to the Secretary of the Navy, , &, comet - < Hanaoe of, Ftwampara, Fins Marc 4, 1803: F ‘Sm—I had the honor to inform you in my last despatch: that the expedition for Fernandina was equipped, ané waiting only for suitable weather to sail from Port Reyal- I have oow the pleasure to inform you tha® T am in full possession of Cumboriand mined and the Sound of Fernandina, and Ainolia island) and the river and town of St. Marys. x ve 8, ae Tailed from Port Royal on the fast day of Fobraacy ‘| ja the Wabash, and on the 34 inst. entered Cumberland’ - Bound by St. Andrew’ in the Mohican, Commander |: 5. W-Goden, cu board of which ship: Ihave hoiséd.may = ; the order-ia whioh they. are named las, leg, Florida, James ‘, Bien ; Keystone State, Gensoa, Huron, Pombina, Isang ‘Smith, Penguin, Potomeks, the armed outter- Hom xiatta, transport MoCiollan—tue latter ei ahs the baxialion of marines under the oom- mand of Major Reynolds—and transporte Empice Saas, Hogton ond City, Marion, Star of the South; Goorgos Creek, containing e brigade under the commaa’ of Beigadior Genoral Wright. - “a ‘We came to anohor in Cumberland. Soynd at half-pas® ten on the morning of the 24, to make an examination ot the channel and waitfor the tide. Hore! learned from @ contraband who had been picked up at sea by Commander Tanier, and {rom the neighboring residents. on Cumber- innd Island, that the rebels had abandoned in haste the whole of the defevces of Fernandina, and wore et tha,” moment retceating from Amelia Island, carrying with them such of their munitions as their precipitate flight would altow. ‘The object of carrying the whole fleet through Cumber- fand Sound was to turn the heavy works on the south ond of the Cumberland and the north end of Amolia Injands, But, om receiving this. intelligence, t detached the gunboats aud armed steamers of light draught from the main line, and, placing them in command ef Commander P, Drayton, of the steam sloop Pawnee, T ordered bim to push through the Sound ef the utmost speed, to save public and private property from threatened destruction; 40 prevent potsom iug wells, and to pat 8 atop to all those outrages, by the Porpetration of which the leaders of ¢his nefarious war hope to drive and exasperate the Southern people. Uti this moraing. Commander Drayton, eveompanted by” C. R. P. Rodgers, with the armed launches, aad cutters and the email armed companies from the Wabeab, baa arrived several hours before me. bis enteriug the ‘harbor, Commander Drayton sont Gieute~ pant White, of the Ottawa, to hoist the flag en Fort: Cliooh, the firet of the national fotte en whiok Wis ensign Of the Union has resumed its proper place since prociamation of the President of the United ‘ iasadd. A fow agattering musket shove were tue town by the Syiag enemy, when U was discoyered that a railroad train was sboat ‘to starts Comme- dore -Dragton o hoard the Oltawa, and Lisutenaas ire Commanding Stevens, chased this tralia for fies, and frod several shols'es it, aiming at es-coaddiee. some of which took effect. It was reported that the Hon. David Yulee, late ® Senator of the United State® from the State of Florida, escaped from this train took to the bush. 4 4 Commander. R. P. Rodgers, pushing ahead with the Lumehos, captured the rebel steamer Darlington, comtain- ows wae injured, Teend the captain of thesteamer home a prisvuer. Hig sameis Jagob Brock. He wa nativect Vermont, but Be bag been @ resident ef Florida for twoats three years. . ‘The seme night Commander C. R. P. Roagerd ascended the St. Maryse, with the Ottaws, and wok pemession of the town, driving out «° picket ot the evemy’s cavalry. Early in the morning the towa of Fernandins was also’ occupied by a patty ef seamen and’ marines from Commander Drayton's com maad. In both places the inhabitantshed fled, by ordér, i {s said, of the rebel authorities. A company of ses- men and marines, ander Lieut. Miller, wan sent from the Mobican to hold Fors Clinch. It is reported to me by’ Lieus. Commanding: Downer, of the Huron, that the’ whole stractare of the railroad on the Yernandina sidey~ jnoluding the swinging arawbridge, is quite aninjured. ‘Tho rebels lave done some damage by fire to the tressie work on the otiter side of the river, but Iam ne® yes informed of ite extent. Several locomotives, bag’ gage cars, tenders, freight cars and some other property besides thet found inthe steamer Darlingtom, have bees recovered. Tue whole aamber of guns discovered up to, this time je thirteen, embracing heavy thicty-twe- pounders, eighi-inch gunseod one eighty and ‘ome one. bundredand swanty-pounder, rifled guns. The towne of St. Marys aad Forpendine are Wninjnred. 1 visited the town, Fort Clinch amd the _ comBworks om thewea face of the island. Jt Is tnrpossibien to look at these preparations for a vigorous defences out being surprived that they should Have been rily doxarted, The battories-en the north and Gortheass sbores are Ay Oomplete ag avtoan makethom. Six ar? ~ woll concealed aud protecte¢ by ranges of sand Mills fo front, contain a perfect shelter for the men, and arene emai! aud thoroughly covered by the nataral growth. and by the Varied ¢outoms of the land, that tostrike then from the water would be the mere result of clanes> A batlery of six guns, thengh larger, and affording there- forea bectar mark, ja eqnallgerell shelteredand manked- hese batteries aud the heavy gaus mounted om Fert Cinch, command all the turnioge of the maim ship chas- nal, and fake an approsebing enemy, Besides thom there wea snotber battery of four guns om the south ond of Cufaberland Island, the fire of @bich woud crosa. the channel inside the bar. The @iffoul- tie acining from the indiree:mess of the * tS aoa sctus battceesbcrdeapi seta dereyces by keeping tho approaching vessels @ long time - oxpaped to Gre under great disadvantages; and when the: nbipe of om enemy bad passed all these defences choy would have to oncounter « well constructed ang sagturally masked battery at the town, which commande rhe access tothe inner sachorage. We are told thas Gan. Lee pronounced the place perfectly defensible. We eve nos surprised as this, {f true, We ompeured Por Royal, dad Fornandins. aad Fort Clinch baye been givem to ne. Wa had in the expedition Mr. W. H. Deonis, an essist~ ant ih the coast survey, whe possessed apeurate loonlt knowledge of » part of the ground we passed over, of which indosd he had made the’ topographica map, ander the direction of the superintendent. Me wee salou and active, and i given he plesaure to mention him. The Empire City, om boar® of whih was General Wright, grounded om tho ber. Am 4400p os bo arrived, in another steamer, immediate etepa wore tedonto transfer to him the forte and ali authority jon On the land. +f Caseee sped hat ot the harmonicas counsels and cordial eo-operasion whith have marked throughout my intercaprse with thia.able offer. Our plans of aption have been matered by mutual consultation, and hav® bean carried into exeoution by mutusi help, {take great pleasure in reminding the dopartmont that one prinolpal and ‘ultimate objeot of the naval expedition, which {have the honor to command was, in the Arst oom, enption, to take and keep under control the whole lineof son coast of Georgia, knowing, to use the language of tha original paper , “that tho naval power ‘hat controls thesea coast of Georgia controls the State of Georgia.’ The report that the fortifications at St. Simon's, armed with heavy columbiads bad boon abandoned, which first reached me ‘at Port Royal, i# confirmed, This being ths case, the entire soa coast of Georgia ts now cither actually in my puaperyion or wader my gontrgl, and thus the views uf a