The New York Herald Newspaper, March 19, 1862, Page 2

~ Rebel Soldiers’ Friends to Leave the Camp yy duties bere iu order ta. shal be com) to give uy Sebel be compelled anand, Wppeodiggrer going witht ‘such v1 x Secure forage [or my 001 ‘a force that will secure me Tam far from supplies, and respectfully beg that a stop may be put to sucheonduct, and that the oflicers may be ebuked. x respectfully desire that the of the Thirteenth Trrcientppi regiment be ordered to give an account of his T have just learned that Col. Kemper took the others. ve . M. L. BONHAM. A Curious Document. Heapgcarrers First BRiGapm A. P., Came Grego, July 27, 1861. @PPeso far as T can, | will carry out directions gon- taiued in special orders No. 169 immediately. But two of Colonel Radford’s companies are here. As your order does not di te the six companies for ‘duty with the brigade, I will do so at once and send for them, namely, Captain Pitzers’, Lieutenant Harris’, Cap- tain Terry’s, Captain Hale’s, Captain Flood’s and Captain Whitehead’s. The following companies will accompany Lieutenant Colonel ee Wilson’s, Captain Davis’, Captains Alexander’s and L "s. T have received no order indicating localities of the dif. ferent brigades, and ask for all special orders, from 120 {0 169 exclusive, which in any way apply to this com- Fe a ing 158 and 157, which are the only oues I ve. Ca bere emper a ‘will you to order them sen! a 4 fully, your obedient sorvant M. L. BONHAM, . Brigadier General Commanding. ‘Te Colonel Tuomas Jorpan, A. A. General. and Not Return. ‘The following general order was endorsed, ‘The visits Of citizens to their friends in the army to be discouraged. ‘This is no time for feasting, &c., but standing to arms,” &e., &6.:— Post Heapquarrers, Camp Pickens, Sept. 19, 1861. ‘GENERAL ORDERS—NO. 26. No person not a member of the army will be allowed to ‘eutor the lines of a regiment or battalion without special permission from the commander thereof. No such person will remain within the said lines after retreat without the permission is in writing, and then only for one night, unless the permission is approved by the commander of the post. ‘The frequent visits of friends of the volunteers only lead to discontent, and is to be discouraged. TLis is no tume for visiting and feasting, but for standing to arms and fichting, and let those who have no stomach for the latter stay at home. Itis necessary to add that even the visits of the female friends of the soldiers, though prompted by the high and holy motives of charity and sympathy, are equally un- reel and injurious. 3'which exist are many, and the best means 4: seu vo shield the troops from their effects, and the mcau. can be best applied by those to whom the duty is now entrusted. By order of General CLARK. W. 8. Baany, Assistant Adjutant General. THE VERY LATEST. ‘See the latest teleg: aphic despatches in another column Of this morning's Hematp. Proposed Extension of Church Street. MEETING OF THE STREET OPENING COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Street Committee of the Board of Al d@ermen was held yesterday, for the purpose of heariug the views of those interested, on the proposed extension of Church street to Battery place. Alderman Bootr, after oalling the meeting to order, ‘said the committee had decided to aliow oight geutlemen from each side to enter within the railings for the pur- pose of arguing the question. Mr. Horrock said he should present a list of remon strants who represented two hundred millions of proper- ty. The remonstrants, he said, were geutiemen, not boys in boarding houses. Mr. Astor's name would be fuund among them. Mr. Guster objected to the remonstranee on the ‘oud that it was signed by many parties who were not terested in the object proposed. Mr. J. W. Muxxs objected to reading the remonstrance. ‘as it remonsirated against the “widening of Church Street,’”’ which is not what ts petitioned for. Mr. Horrock then rose to speak whe measure, and said that he was opposed to it on tho ground that it would involve a great oxpenee and would not benefit any partios whutever. Ex-Judge Vanperroet said he agreed with Mr. Hop- , aod hoped ihe committee would give them a littie ing spell, He believed that the owners of real estate were just now in the same state as those having -righteousness, the more you have of it the worse youare off. He thought this was a very inopportune Pross any measure of improvement involving the outlay of a dollar. He thought they ought to follow the examplc of legislative bodies all over the country and economise. The amount of the assessments woul! 8 defray the expenses, and the burden would uitimately fail on the taxpayers. Yaaro L. Piatt said the project of widening Church Street was not to improve (bo city or benefit tha pro- perty owners, but that, after the st: eet is opened, a rail road would be run through it,and thus ruin the busi- ness, a@ is the case with every strect through which a railroad is run. Mr. Hows.t Horrock said_he objected to the petition in (avor of the widening of Church street, as many of the petitioners signed it in the year 1860. Some of those parties are now dead, have failed and some have ‘even attached their signatures to tbe protest against the 2. Coum>ilman Pivcexs said he had had the honor for twenty years to represent property in the vicmity of the opening. He thought that the burden of the war was suilicieut to deter the committee from further ing this object. It is the crossing of Broadway that causes the confusion, and that when Chambers street is raded ind p:ved Brondway will be considerably re- jieved. Isaac L. Prat caid thata very number of stores im the lower part of the city will not occupied during 1862-63, and the rents of those occupied will depreciate one-fourth. Mr. J. W. Mens said he Wad opy the measure at the last meoting for the purpose of getting information in regard to it. Tho opponents suppose that the purpose i= togetawide aveuue for a railroad. The cost will no doubt be very great, but Broadway below Fulton street requires relief. The exteasion of Church streot will draw | off very much of tlie trave! {rom Broadway; it would cut | through some stores which are now paying over three | por cent of the awards they would receive. The cost he 1 H estimated would be about $800,000. Some 10,000 lots would be benolitted, and the assessment would probably not exceed $50 per lot. Several other gentlemen then spoke in favor of the mearure,nud the committee adjourned without coming to any decision. 7 The foilowing wore among the gentlemen presont:— Richard H. MeCurdy, George H. Swords, John €. Tueker, Joba H. Sherwood, Stephon Storin and Andrew H. Mickle. Arrival of the United States Steam Fri- gate Roanoke. The United States steain frigate Roanoke arrived this morving from Hamp.vn Roads, having been five days on the passage. She comes to this port for repairs. ‘The following is a list of her officers:— Caplain—Jobn Marston. fa ee Ee ma ye Scott Fillebrowa. aymaster—Bovjamin J. Ci Surceon—!.dward Gilebris' Dementia ary De a, Captarn for:nes—M. R. Hivosaing. Cini Teer Givin. MO sistant Surgeon—J.C. Spear aud Ira rage. ‘Acting Masiers— D. Voorhees, Kdgar Vau slyeb, ralisun. Third Assistant Bnginecr.—Goorge W. Burknap, Witiaw &. G. Wost, Albert Jackson and alfred Hedricu. ‘Boatswain—Thomas Benvett. Broughton, Capain's Cleri—W. H. Ennis. Paymaster’s Clerk—Jobn J. MeCormick. Master's jes J. Rogers, J. W. Butler and Jas. Pilo—Waiter H. Lingo. Coroners’ Inquests. Swcouar Moetauny Aone Cumoney.—There were no Joss than throe cases of child suffocation on St. Patrick's Day. In one case the infant was smothered in its mo ther’s arma while the latter was looking at the proces- gion. In another instance ths mother was carrying the dead body of hor child about the city for ever an hour before ehe discovered the fact of ‘ho ch id's death, aad in the third case death woe caused by the mother caro lessly lying upon the child while io bed. Coroner ey held an inquest in each cose. Foon Drowwnn.—The body of aman named Jotin Mor. fay was found drowned in the b: on the north side of the Transverse rond, Central Park, yesterday had beon missing since tho 2% of Deco was in the immodiate neighborhood of th last seen alive. The bady was + mo house. where an injuest wa: id bY Ur ooased was thirty-six yoors of age, w land, and resided in Fifty firth str avenue. Keroseme Ort Casvarty.—Sopbia Frederiak, @ woman about twenty-one years of age, Mod at 8. Vincent's Hos pital yesterday, from the effects of burns gecidemtaliy re. ceived by the oxplotion of a kerosene oil lamp. The »cei dent happenud on the 24th ult., at No. Hadson street, and was the result of carelessness. Corover Collin officiated Police Intalligence, Rone ve Gunenn.—Two old offenders, named William Hyatt and William Wilson, were arrested by the Fifteenth ward police on Monday afternoon, on suspicion of pocket picking. The prisoners, it is bolieved, were the parties who set firo to a fond “f hay at the junction of Fourth avenne and the Powery, a the progross of the pro- eossion. Their obj t 184, was to prodoce some. thing extra in the way of ajom feather their nests during the confusion. Several pockets were picked before the police discovered the ruse, but (he loss was compara- tively trifling Arrival of the Caledo: \e Por’ TLAND, Me., March 19,1802. ‘The steamship Caledonian, Captain Clark, from Glas on the 26th. arrived bere at noon today, she ” i forty two passengers. THE MONITOR. SHOT PROOF VESSELS—ERICSSON’S BAT- TERY. By Issac Nawron, First Asawstawr Exciveee, U.S. N., Now Cuey Excinser ov tae Mowiror. (From the Journal of the Franklin Institute. At the present time, while the government is working at the problem of ironclad vessels, and all thinking citi- zens po gmc y interested and anxiously awaiting the regult, an impartial discussion of this very important subject would not be out of place. It is a matter, too, of the greatest importance financia'ly, as it involves the ex- penditure of mavy millions of dollare, We have delayed too loug the construction of iron-clad shot-proof vessels, but before we commenes ‘to build them in large numbers @ thorough investigation of the subject is absolutely necessary. Even this delay may, however, prove to be a great advantage, as it gives us tho oxperience of both France and England in building them, as well as the knowledge eliminated by the volu- minous papers written by professional men and pub- lished in the principal magazines of England, and also of the discussions, both for and against, between many of ber prominent engineers, army and avy ollicers. ‘Many of these articles, and also several scientific men, have declared in the most emphatic manner that it would be an act of utter folly Lo place another wooden war ves- sel on the stocks, or even to complete those already com- menced, ‘Sir Howard Douglas, ove of the first authorities on Baval and military matters, and to whom the British navy is greatly indebted for its present efliciency, has most strenuously opposed all such radical changes. ‘The arguments, facts aud statistics brought to bear by Sir Howard against ine use of iron vessels for war purposes, it would be weil for every unprejudiced person to examine before forming a hasty conclusion.* In these remarks Sir Howard does not refer parpicularly to iron-clad ves- sels, and his criticisms on that class of vesse!s are prin- cipally as to their efficiency as cruisors to take place of wooden ships, Sir Howard revised the last edition of his “Naval Gunnery” ia his eighty-fifth year. This venerable aud conscientious man has been,on this ac- count, assailed on every side by a host-of writers, who, whatever else may have been their ability, had not that thorough scientific knowledge which was necessary to combat the array of facts and arguments he displayed. ‘The project of clothing vesse!s with iron armor for the Purpose of resisting shot is not of as recent a date as is nefaliy supposed; it was suggested by Colonel Paix- , better known as the inventor of tho Paixhans shell gun, nearly forty years ago. The first examples we have, however, of iron-clad vessels, were those constructed in France and copied by England in the late war with Russia. They were used in conjunction with tho im- mense allied fleet at_the attack on Kinburn, and the re-“4 sult, as far as these batteries wore concerned, cannot be regarded as settling much in their favor. Douglas states them to have been utter failures; at any rate, they could not carry their own armament, and all their guns were conveyed in transpor's employed fur the purpose.* ‘The two types of iron-clad vessels upon which we have been accustomed to look are the French Gloire and tho Engiish Warrior, ‘These ships differ essentially in many points; but they both possess defects inherent to their mode of construc- tion, which impair their efficiency either as cr floating batteries; and the idea that such vessel ‘ake the place, or to perform the duties roquired of the ‘ok fashioned wooden war vessels, is not for a moment to be tolerated. It is proposed to show that the principles adopted in the constraction of both these vessels are er- roncous, and that for the amount of money the Warrior cost eight or nine iron-clad steamers, perfectly impreg- nable to any projectile she can throw at the shortest ranges, could be consiructed, and each one capable of coping with thia vaunted frigate. Vessels of the usual form, plated with impenetrable armor, will not fulfil either the conditions required of mon-of-war or of im- pregnable ships. Both the Gloire and the Warrior may be of special service against a neighboring belligerent Power, but not as oruisers, nor as antagonists which we need fear. Iron-plated shot-proof vessels have their especial funetion to perform; they can ror be anything more than auxiliaries to a navy and adjuncts to forts for the defence of our harbors, bays and cousts. Let us exainine the two mail-clad vessels mentioned. The Gloire was the first completed. The project, it ap- pears, hdd long been a favorite one with Napoleon III. she is so overloaded with the enormous weight of her ar- mor, 850 tons, and hor armament, that iu anything like & beavy sea, the water mot only comes up into her ports, which are but six feet from the surface of the water, but rolis up her sides and over her. Her centre of gravity issonear the metacentre, from the fact that the im- mense weight of her armor above the water line brings it so much higher above the centg@of gravity of the water displaced, compared with ordinary vessels, that she is very Geficient in stability, and consequently ehe rolls very deeply; bosides, she’ has no great speed; when loaded for sea and in smooth water, it will probably not be over nine knots. Aga sea-going ship, she ie, therefore, an utter failure.” The only duty she can perform, and that indifferently, is that of a floating battery. It may be said these defects can be obviated in future. Inthe Warrlor, im endeavoring to correct these, now ones were created. . Nature will not change her laws: to be successful in mechanies they must be obeyéd, : ‘The Engiish naval architects appreciated these difficul- ties, and tried to correct them as much as possible, as will be seen by the piaus adopted in the construction of the Warrior. This vessel differs from her rival in seyeral important points. { 1. She is constructed entirely of iron, whereas jthe Gloire is a wooden ship iron-plaied. 2. Only the central portion of the ship 1s covered with armor, each end, for a length of nearly one hundred feety is built inthe same manner as is usual with ordi iron steamships, the sides being made of plate- five-eighths of an inch thick. BS Her tonnage is very much greater than that of the loire. ‘The reasons for these important differences are obvious. As one of her admi bas weil state!, speed had to be attained in combin&tion with a shut-proof hull, and had not the proposal to leave been adopted, this combi: tically impossible, except with far greater dimensions than even the Warrior's. Her constructors, as has been remarked, appreciated atonce the dofectsof the Glo! ry viate, or at least to ameliorate them as much as was pos- sible in the construction of the Warrior, They were de- termine y rate to build a ship which would perform more satisfactorily at sea; and they were required to excel their rival in speed. The Gloire was deficient in stubitity; she would be a mere log in a seaway: her gens were bit aix feet from the wacer, and could not be used at all, except in comparatively calm weather. Therefore, to overcome these difficulties , they build a larger ship, and to make asguranee doubly sure (as regurcs sea qualities u od), they only cover seven-thirteenths of ber k with armor, Even the increased size alone was a great advantage iu assisting them to accomplish theseends This is apparent when it is remembered that the area to be covered by iron armor increases as the the square, while the capacity to carry it, or, in other words, the displacanent of the vessel, increases as the ube of the dimensions. The part protected by shot proof armor does not, in t ch exceed the leugth cecupied by engines , hor ends being free from the enormous weight of shot-proof armor, they were enabled to make them much foer than otherwise; aud almost for tho first timo ‘u the construction of & war vessel the armament was the last thing considered, it was ship first, and battery last. 0 IS, aceording to the published statements, a forty eight gua ship, of which bus thirty six are protected by shot-proof armor, These guns are the sixty-eight- pounders of ninety-tive hundred weigit; it has been stated, however, that some of these may give place to one hundred pounder Armstrong riflec guns. It haa been porceived that both extremities of the War- rior are exposed to desttuction; that only the eontral part is pretended to be shot-proof. The masts, sails and rigging are liable to be shot away, and strew the decks, to drag over the sigs and entangle the screw, preventi it from being used. Tho bow, Lom yond with the rigging it supports, and the stern, which not only coutains tho officers’ quarters, but.also supports those vital parta, the acrow aud rudder, will be exposed to destruction by the ‘s shot, and most certainly they wil be the parts Alihough when both her extremities are shattored aud Allied with wi he may Bot sink,her situation at sea would be one of o danger. or if attacking a fort fi. cation, equivalent ty a capture, That the mistake of ieav- ing (hese euds unprotected is acknowledged, every candid person will admit, when it is stated that (he iron-clad vessels now being built in England, are to bs plated (rom om to stern, the beautiful overlanging prow and the wind ornamental stern, which we have uli considered as essontial features of a man-ol-war, aro a d; they begin to understand now the defects or the Warrior as woil a8 they did those of the Gloire,and appreciate tho roughly the inefficiency of the enormous und oxtrava gant vessel just completed. In the now vessels, the how and stern will be nearly alike; experieuce has taught them the difieulty,if not the alinost impessibuity of plating vessols of the ordinary form with shot-proof armor from stom to stern: they are driven by necessity to a simple shape. are com tively useless for many of the p tonded, # n theitgreat dra ght of wot fow harbors which they can enter with gal menae weight of their nrmor, owing to the largo of euriace to be yprotected, is utterly tucompmtih) avd even their t jes aro Bot ao very formi 0 18 every rearon to br sel’, with her fine uneased atlain a spew an , ’ borne in performancen of naliy eredided to them y rial trip. att or a moatred nile, under met with at sea, aod wh ant shell om cee: in crossing the At Jraught of water they o breaching range of ject to be attained them for ulterior shonld not be te pat to rom purpores, they yos, destroyed, if the at tempt should be made, provided we nae the moans in our power; that is, 1f the forts rovided, ae tho United States engineers insist, with the leaviest” successful ord pane known— the fifteen-inch qun, cast after the method of Capiain Rodman, United States Army. a shot from whieh would literally crush in their sides as easily as a sogar box, assisted by ehot-proof gunboats, also equipped with the heaviest ordnence. Military science should eek rather to counteract than to imitate, and most thoroughly has it been done in this caso, Thie J¢ DO speculation; the fifteen-ineh gun haa on made and vised successfully, and it ie asserted by no *Vide Naval Guonery’’ and Postscript, by General Sir Howard Douglas, London. * For a description of this gun, see ‘Notes va Sea Const Defence,” by Maior Baruard, U.S. 4. authority than f. ‘twenty inches can | ists to our wooden ships of greater tery? We may successfully counteract their comparitive impregnability with speed and a judi- cious arrangement of Sessany, Speed is as point which now nearly all nav: piicers pekngwiotas to be of paramount importance, a surrender of which cannot under apy circumstances be permitted. ‘Steam no longer plays a second part; this condition is re- versed, and sails are now considered to be auxiliary. In all vessels now being built for the navy, speed under steamn is a sine qua non; the hallucination of auxil- jary steam power has been |, and alrcady steps reatly increase the speed of our large screw fri 5 The arguments which the,writer in the Corniill Magazine for February, 1861, vses to prove the great advantages of the Warrior ‘over the Glvire would apply, according to his reasoning, almost as forcibly to a swift well armed screw frigate as they do to the Warrior herself. It is not porsible, other things being equal, for an iron-clad shot-proof frigate, loaded as she is with both armor and battery, to be equal in speed to ® wooden frigate burthened only with battery, and even a heavier one. Jt is worse than useless for us to waste millions of dollars on Gloires and Warriors. We perceive and under- stand fully the functions which shot-proof iron-clad ves- scl are destined to perform, namely, as auxiliaries to our navy and fortifications, in the defence of our harbors, bays, coasts, and adjacent waters, from any attack which may be made by any floot, nd matter how large. The more we examine the question the more we are con- vinced that the whole matter of ironclad vessels, in both France and England, has been a game of ‘‘brag;’’ they have built vessels useful only to intimidate each other, formidable to no oue else; indeed, it would not be agreat exaggeration to say that they were built more with a view to their own safety than to be terrible to their eaemies, ‘Tue excitement created in England by the appearance of this solitary vessel, and the announcement some more were to be built, is hardly to be credited, Think of the millions that are now being spent there upon both forts and iron-cased steamers. ey are not willing to substitue entirely a perishable for an imperishable do- , and if the skill and judgment of the United States engineers and the system of seacoast defence inaugurated Poel forty years since needs an endorsement, it has it ere. ‘This paper could not be regarded as complete if it omit- ted tv mention that notable structure, the Stevens batte- ry, which bas become almost a household word. Proba- bly no enterprise in which the government has ever been interested bas attracted go much attention and caused 80 much speculation; this no doubt has been occasioned principally by the impenetrable mystery which has sur- rounded it, and the strict secresy with which those parts already constructed have been built; even the govern- ment itself had no thorough knowledgo of what was going on. Now that tho veil has been lifted by the Board of Com- missioners appointed by the secretary of the Navy to ‘exumino and report upon it, curiosity is at least satisted. This Board was composed of Commodores Stringham and Inman, Captain Dornin and Chief Engineer Stimers, of the United State avy, and Professor Henry, of the’ Smith- bee Institute. is latter. gentleman made a minority report. Howover much credit is due to Mr. Stevens for priority in suggosting tho feasibility of constructing shot-proof vessels, by coating thein with iron, the present structure and the various plans proposed for its completion have been the work of the last few years. ‘The battery, as far as completed, consists of a long, slender, iron vessel, without decks, the entire central portion filled with engines and boilers, The vessel is provided with two independent screws, which by re- volving them in opposite directions, will cause.the ship to turn around in nearly her own length. It was the intention of her projector, by supplying her with immense power and by giving bor the sharpest ends ever constructed, to produce a speed unrivalled ia the b story of navigation, As is alreaty well known, the Board reported against the completion of tho vessel upon the proposed. ‘This report is exceedingly thorough and is very much in detail; at tho same time it must be said that it is quite impartial and just. The description of the vessel and the plans proposed to complete her, which occupy the first part of the report, were warmly commended by the par- ties themze!ves, ob account of its perfect accuracy. So the correctacss of the criticisms which form the fatter part of it, and the cotclusion which condemns the com- pletion upon the plans proposed, may be judged accord- ingly. These plans must have been of very recent origin, as they differ mterially from those advanced by her pro: jector, R. L. Stevens, Exq., deceased. Tt was tho intention of her projector to have vertical sides above water, pierced with gun ports; the inclined armor and the plan of having the guns exposed en on top of the vessel appears to be of very recent date. ‘The principal points upon which the Board condemned it, form radical parts of the entire plan,and which cannot be obviated without entirely reconstructing those parts already completed (which are in fact nothing more than the hull of an unusually sharp iron steamer, with the steam machinery), are, first, great parpynmd instrength, ‘both as rogards sea going qualities and the ability to sup- port the armor proposed. Second, the pian of mounting the guns cn Larbette, with nothing whatever to screen them from the view of the enemy, and depending upon thoir immense size to protect them from destruction when struck by shot. Experiments tried at Woolwich, Eng- land, in 1857, prove that masses of cast iron i largo as the fifteen inch gun -were entirely destroyed by shot from the sixty-eight pounder gun. ird, that ithe ‘essel would not be im all parts and ‘at al ines shot- proaf. ‘These objections involve many important mimor ones, which from the space allotted to this paper cannot be enumerated. One is, however, that the fact ef baving the guns ce: posed entails the necessity, for the tion of the ners, of having them manipulated, both as regards luad- ing and training, by complicated machinery placed below the deck upon which they are mounted, ouly one man to eae! mip site. and Gre: baleg co Sark in time tion. ‘Vilstever may be theoretical advantage of the plan of partially sinking the vessel to secure the additional ‘ater, in time of action, it is impracti- pointed out by the Board; besides, it would be far to make the vessel perfectly shot- proof, without depending onauch a pian for her protec- tion when in presence of the enemy ; indeed, there might —— when the weather would preclude this partially sinking. Congress have acted very judiciously on the subject of iron-clad vessels, evidently unwilling to vote immeuso sums of movey to be expended on projects of doubtful success. At the special session last «ummer, however, ap act was pagsed authorizing the Socretury of the Navy to advertise for proposals to construct one or more iron- ciad shot-proof vesseis—each one proposing to furnish his own plans; it was algo provided that these plans should be approved of by three commanding officers of the avy, and aboard was appointed for this purpose, consisting of Commodores Smith and Paulding and Cap- tain Davis. One million five bundred thousand dollars were appropriated to build such as were approved of. ‘Three wore selected, all diflerest from each other. Among these was one presented by the eminent engi- ueer, Ericsson. In designing this veasel he displayed that thorough knowledge of mechanical phil y which is the most strongly marked trait of Bis character, and which bag not probably been possessed toso great an extent by avy enginoer since the days of Watt, this same knowledge he so successfully brought to bear upon the introduction of the scrow propeller, constructing one long before the tedious experiments upon this subject tried by England and France had beon perfurmed,and which only proved that the principles adoj ted by him were correct. Every American will remember with pride the old irigute Princeton, the first serew steamsiip-of-war with ber machinery placed entircly below the water-line, out of the reach of shot; the first which burned anthracite coal, ayviding that dense smoke which even now revouis plainly for miles the position of all foreign war steamers; the first provided with a telescopie funnel, which could be lowered out of the way of the sails; tho first that used blowers, thus making the supply of steam perfectly inde- pendent of the smoke pipe; infact, the frst really suc cessful application of the screw to vessels-of-war. ‘ovided with direct acting engines, which worked bean tifully for years. Ericsson at an carly day saw their advantages, aud waa the first who coupled the screw directly Wo the engines. This vessel, 18 almost every one kuows, was desigued by Ericsson over twenty years ago, So when the problem of shoct-proof vessels arose, he perceived at once the duties required of such a and instead of proceeding as his predecessors bave dou: in be g down vessels of the ordinary form with the imme: eight of shot-proot armor required to entirely cover thom, le adopted at once the shape which gives the possible buoyancy with the smallest area of targ’ A broad, lint bottomed vessel, perpeudi: lar sides and regular pointed ends, requires but lit depth to displace a suilcicat quanitily of water to buoy seit ap, loaded with shot-pruof ariwor on its sides, anda bomb: proof deck, upon whi placed a shot-pruof re. volving turret, armed with two of the heaviest gun ‘This 1s Whitis termed the upper vessel; its leng ‘ - 2: brewdih forty -ou: ot th phi ell inch polid oak twenty-six incl the shot proof armo ‘h thick ext, 's VOssel are sormed x, next to which Lick; thie ovk thc ryes and i nppliod with @ rapiuity with i bat one Mm ony cud tbe rength This i what is termed tho lower vossol; it Js 0 trod and twenty-sour four feet long, @hirty-four i adth, at its jrnetion with the u i“ feet at the bottom, and six feet six Inchos deop, In «peaking of these as the upper and must not be supposed that they aro built soy they make toge one vessel; it is only og regards the furs i the vexsul that shey can be spoken of as two. it will also be peroe'ved that the lower yexel is muct narrower than the upper one at their junction, and (hat ite sides are very sloping. This is dove go that if (he enemy's projectile, such as the Whitworth bolt, shouir possibly pass below the upper shot-proof vessel, tho eidos of the lower one would be struck at such an acute angie that no damage could oceur. The #ame provision ix also mace at both the bow and stern. ‘The upper vossel te far enough over the bow of ‘ho lower vne to contain a circular ture, in which the qnghor is hoisted by a cayetan ia Wha bor af 9 lower vessel, At the sterm it a's» projects far enough to tho- Poughly Protect the Pudder anid screw. a will be twe blowers, drawing their supply of air through bomb-proof gratings in the deck above—one to create a draft for the boilers,and the other to ventilate the ship. The smoke and gases from the boilers pass through bomb. proof gratings in the deck. The entire vessel is divided near the contre by a strong wrought iron bulkhead, on the after side of which aro the steam machinery and coal, aud forward the quarters for the oificers aud men (which are quite comfortable and spacious), and the store rooms, magazines, kc. ‘The revolving turret is composed of a rolled irou skele- ton, one inch in thickness, to which is riveted ani bolt- ed ight lamin of rolled plates,each one inch thick. These plates are very accurately fitted up, the seams aro vertical, and the ‘80 arranged as not to come in the sais line. ‘The top is made bomb. proof by being covered with & bomb-proof roof placed six inches down in the cylinder. The diameter cf the interior of the turret is twenty foet and the hei from the deck nine feet. Within this turret are two eleyen-inch Dahigren smooth bore guns, but fifteen-iach guns could be mounted in it. Two enormous wrought iron pendulums are 30 arranged that when tho gun recoils they will swing by and effectu- ally close the portholes. The general rower may ask, why are not there those terrible rifled guns* about which so much has been said? The reason simply is, that sphe- rical shot are much more efficient at short ranges than ritied ones are at apy range, and ag this vessel is shot proof she will engage the enemy at a distance of from 300 to 400 yards. Her draught of water is tonfeet, It is expected that she will have a speed of eight knots. She is not intended ag acruiser, but can proceed safely by sca to any part of our coast during the roughest weather. ‘The bomb-proot anny for the furnaces anc blowers at such times will protected by suitable pipes, to prevent the water from entering if it should come on the deck. If desirable in - —< rags ——— be built a greater speed can be attained by simply giving more steam powor; but it is thought the pom ie eee anpe for all purposes for which this one is in- en Her cost complote will be $275,000, or about one-eighth the cost of the Warrior. Imagine the Warrior surrounded by eight such veasels, perfectly shot-proof, sticking close to her, and their 11-inch wrought iron shot smashing iu her sides. The weight of the vessel complete, with stores, am- munition and coal, will be about one thousand tons— the armor along of the Warrior weighs thirtcon hun- ors wil in al lity be the A is will in all probability be the first sea-going iron- clad shot-proof vessel ever used in actual warfare. This is the only plan ever yet promulgated which thoroughly protects every vital part of tho veasei Itself and every- body within it. It will be seen that thus far we have lost nothing by thedolay, which has brought forth a form of vessel complying so perfectly with the necessities which are imposed by the heavy armament peco:sary in obtaining impregnability. Wethink wo have now the principle required; let us proceed cautiously, and correct in those to be built in future any slight defects which may ex- hibit themselves in actual use. Naw York, Jan. 15, 1862. *Notwithstanding how much we have heard of Armstrony and other rilled guns. the Dabigren riiied 150-pounder of 16, pounds weight, from its extreme simp't-ity and beauty of workmanship, is far ahead of any spect-s of rifled gun ever yetconstructed. It is cast without trunions or cascable, to Avoid the strain caused by y rotuberances in castings, without an angle to mar its beautifully eurved outline, ‘To those who have & mechanical eye, and appreciate simplicity, this gun will be viewed with the greatest admiration. ~ ARSENAL AND ARMORY AT QUINCY, ILL. ‘As the ostablishmont of a Western arsenal and armory is contemplated by the Congross of the United States to ‘moet the Increased requirements of the country, and as the claims and advantages possessed by many Western cities and towns for tho location of such an establish- ment are being industriously pressed upon Congress and the public, it is perhaps well that the place which pre- sents in an eminent degree advantages superior to those of any other whose claims are being urged upon Con- gress andthe public, should not be wholly overlooked and forgotten. Quincy is the goographical contre of the three great Western States of Illinois, lowa and Missouri. (See map of government survey herewith.) 4 By describing a circle of which Quincy is the centre and the circumference touching Chicago, it also touches Cairo, and embraces within it the wholo of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, the great lumber portion in the West south ,of Wisconsin, the only settled portion of Kansas, and parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, Nebraska an‘! Minnesota, Within this circle, the diametor of which ia five hundred miles, and the centre of which is Quincy, is embraced more agricultural and mineral wealth and re- sources, and botter means for distribution by trauspor- tation by river and rail, in every direction, than can be found in any other tract of country of the same diamo- ter on this continent. ! Quincy is on the cast bank of tho Mississippi .tver, and is the farthest west of any city on the east side of that river for its whole length from Galena to New Orloans, Leing sixty-four miles farther west than St. Louis, and forty-five miles farther west than Rock Island. In population Quincy has about sixteen thousand, and is im Bize the second city in Iilinois. It is iocated op a Ligh bluff, about one hundred and” sixty feet above the level of the river, aud is the highest point on theé@ast bank of the rivor fora distance of one hundred miles, there being no point within thirty miles above Quincy or seventy miles below at which the bluif comes to the river. ‘The latitude of Quincy is the same as Philadelphia. The atmosphere is dry, the winters mild, the navigation of the Mississippi at this place is rarely impeded by ice for more than sixty days in winter, and frequently it ta nnin- terrupted during tho entire year. . Quincy is below all obstructions which exist to the na- vigation of the Mississippi. It is forty miles below the rapids at Keokuk, and tho largost. Mississippi river steamers can land, load, and dopart from the levee. ‘The bost boat harbor on the river is at Quincy; it isa bay about four milesin length, which ts formed by a long peninsula Ae sda of the river from the main land. In the bay maby large steamers from St. Louls ar® laid up and repaired during every winter, and are safe from the heavy ice brought down from the Upper Mis- sissippi river by the winter aud spring ireshets, Asa safe harbor for keeping and Iopeiring, or buiiding govern- ment boats this bay is unequalled and invaluably. Quincy is situated directly at the crossing of the two great thoroughfares of the country—the Mississipi river and the longest line of railroad on this ¢.n! first furnishes means for transportation from worth to south for the whole length of the United States; the last commences at the Atlantic Ocean, and, passing westward, crosses the Mississippi river at Quincy and continues to the most western State this side of the Rocky Mountains Within tweive hours of Quincy, by cheap rivertrans- portation, are the lead mines of Galeum and .bnqueon the north and within about the same distance south, and accessible nearly the whole way by river navigation, aro iuexhaustibie deposits of the best iron in the world, that of Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob, in Missouri. In the im: mediate vicinity of Quincy are immense for ets of black walnut and whiteoak timber. Much of the biack walnut used for gun stocks in Tastern armories is sawed and shipped {rom the vicinity of Quincy. For quality and cheapness of building materials Quincy is second to no place in the Union. The finest building stone can be obtained in any quantity directly upon the spot, for simply the cost of quarrying. Brick of the best quality is manuiactured bere in im- mense quantities, and can be had dolivored at $3 per thousand. Luinber can be obtainod here as cheap, if not cheaper as in any other place in the West. For example, a lar, quantity of lumber was recently advertised for by t government agent for the purpose of building barracks atCamp Butler, near Springiield. Bids wero received from parties at Chicago and many other place: lowest bidders were from Quincy, who took the cont shipped the lumber from Quincy, and delivered i Camp Butler—transporting it by rail one hundred and sixteen miles—at $46 per thousand, Inexhaustible mines of coal of the best quality aro in the immediate vicinity of Quincy, and this plaice is the coaiing depot for steamers plying between the upper rapide of the Mississippi river and St. Louis. Coal can be had, delivered, at $2 per ton. A national armory and arsenal located at Quincy would be perfectly safe from @ foreign foo, and would be piaced on high ground, with | every advantage for defonce, where, if necessary, it can casily be protected from domestic invasion. It no uther “ poinis of advantage existed, these alone Quincy to bo a ‘better place works than Chicago. The the shore of which is situa tud Chicago are om another side the shore of a fo- reign notion. A largo o: © in building a national vis6nal and armory w oul probably involve a h larger expenditure ! o Northwest.’ Tr F duiney to bo the centre of agricultural countr produces srall portion of which, ofter ali, ia Ch a’ comturrcial city “9 ountry, rich ni its great interests rain, only “Dieages 1 ry th, pr vit ty on b river, Now York or Albany? Ferry, Cath altinsoFe o PI Anoth + was placed Why net have Another was built ives. Why not have por's bailt it at B. Auothy ist ore is no doubt that it reference to the pinent of the coun. tive most western point, other wis: cLaiirding Mocwesary facilities, would, on that coount alone, have ,souhar claims to tbe attention of those charged with tis Ieeation, Quincy has that por tion, and will be foun | poscos# Advantages whieh a combined % the sane extent a no other point, ao "DMbND HO* al iN % JAM! § woonRuEr, a a Ww RS, y c THOVAS GAs eR, | Citl2eus of Quincy HENXY ASBURY, THE CHAMBER CF COMMERCE. Our Want of Harbor Defences as Demonstrated in the Recent Naval Engagements. Report of the Committee in Consultation with the War Department. Wecessity for the Immediate Hrec- tion of Rodel Monitors. The Capitalists and Commercial Men Called Upon to Protect Our Harbors, PROPOSED CONVENTION OF SHIPBUILDERS. Interesting Debate in the Chamber, * &ee Ree Ree The Chamber of Commoyce held a special mecting yesterday at their rooms,for the purpose of hearing the report of the committee which was sent to Washing- ton last week to consult with the War Department in re- lation to the building of vessels to protect our harbor and coast from naval foes. Tho recent engagement be- tween the rebel monster Merrimac and tho Monitor, and the destruction resulting toour wooden vessels from the action of the former, has stirred the Chamber to exertion, and it was for this reason that a committee, consisting of Mayor Opdyke, Mosars. C. F. Marshall and A. A. Low, were appointed to confer with the government officers iprelation to the best mode to be adopted to guard against so serious an accident infuture. In the absence of the chairman, Mr. A. A. Low, Vice President, took the chair. Tho roading of the minutes of last mocting was dispensed with. Mr. A. A. Low vacating the chair for the time being, and Mayor Opdyke occupying that position, the former gentleman, as one of the committee who had gone to Washington, proceeded to give an account of their opera- tions while there, as follows:— ‘The committee appointed at the last mecting of the Chamber of Commorce to visit Washington, upon the in- vitation of the head of tho War Department, loft this on Thursday, and had, agreeable to appointment,an inter- view on Friday evening. Dolegations from the Boards of Trade of Boston and Philadelphia were also present. ‘The recent appearance in Hampton Roads of the iron- clad Merrimac on her destructive mission; her probablo reappearance; the means to be adopted for repelling this or other similar invaders of our ports, and topics of « kin dred character, occupied the whole evening. Without at- tempting to relate what was said on oither sido; the com- itteo may state ag the result of theirinierview that the wing conclusions were reached: — hat stone for, with their usual armament do not present any suflicient. obstacle to the ingress of iron-clad vessels intoour harbors. That vessels of the Monitor description may entor and assail any Southern port with- ont risk of harm to themselves. That vessels of this or similar construction are ag good for the defence of our ports as thoy are for the assault of others.” That in view of the magnitude of tho interests involved it ts the duty of the citizens of Bos- ton, Philadelphia and New York to enter at once npon the creation of iron-ciad ve:sels, with the requisite strength anid power to cope with the Merrimac or other formidable batteries, should such appear on the scene of our present conflict. ‘That to this end it ig right and propor that the wealth, the activity, the energy and the skill of this metropolis and of the other citres named should forthwith be placed at the command of the government; that our insurance companies, banks and moneyod institutions, in common with our weal'hy mon, should be appealed to for contri- butions in the name of the common safety and of the common good, in behalf ofa nobie country, andia the spirit of an enlightened patriotism. It is due to the Secretary of War to state that such was the burden of his appeal to your committee; that what- ever may have been the errors of the past it was the duty of all, whether in or out of office, to look only to the future; by promptitude of action, by energy of movo- ment and by gencrons emulation in well doing, to repair Proprenens vigor what has been lost by neglect. several delegations left Warhington ac- tuated by one spirit and animated by one o— faithfully to represent, with all the earnestness in their power, the urgency of immediate and decisive action on the part of tho several cities represented by them. appeal will take in Massachusetts or Pennsylvania your committee are not prepared to say but they weroand are of one mind that in New York it may safely rest upon tho wellestabiished generosity of this community, and that they may confidently look to the insurance companies, the banking. institutions and the merchants for $500,000, to be lodged in the hands of a suitable comm: ttee, whenevor required, for the purposes in viow, so that all delays of State or city legislation may be avoided. It was stated to your committee that two iron-clad ves- sels are building in Mobile and one iu New Orleans, and all are supposod to be far advanced: and, moreover, that without the persona! contributions of Southern men and Southern woinen rebellion would have failed to present to our vision & menace so formidable as that of the Vir- ginia and other veesels of a like character that have ap- peared at Hainpton Rods and New Orleaus, and that now threaten our sa-ety from the harbor of Mebile. Mayor Orpyke said that he deemed it ontirely useless to add anything to the ‘ull, free and eloquent appeal which had been made by Mr. Low. He would endorse everything said by bim in favor of the Secretary of War, for it was just and weil deserved. That government had overfooked some small details in the successful carrying on of this war, was not be wondered at. Wo all kuow that the business which was performed by governments at tho present time, was very arduous. The result of the contest between the Monitor and the Merrimac had produced new and startling facts to the minds of the whole civilized world. It bad demon trated the absolute inutility of wooden vessels and stove forts. S ships and such walls were now declared useless. Woe should meet this emergency, aud do it promptly. To provide the harbor of Now York with such vessels as will be suf. ficient to protoct the property of the city from injury aud deapoi!ment, that appeal was ma the Chamber cf Commerce upon that day. Ifthe work of providing for this coutingeney were at once properly proceeded with, the commnttes felt confident that the whole matter would be accomplished in ninety days, which would be a secure defence against any invader that might be tempted to visit us. Mr. Low had but one thing tosay. Five hundro! thou. sond dollars had been already subscribed by the Poard of Tradeot Boston, aud the Union Ferry Company of this city had subscribed ten thousand dollars for the same praiseworthy object. Captain Mancitar said that it was not necessary for him to say a singic word in regard to the matter after the able and eloquent manner in which the affair bad been put before the Chamber. ‘That the property of the city ‘was at stake and required protec |, Was @ sufficient aud forcible motive for immediate action in this matter. All he had to say was, that they should ail havo to put their handa in their 8 and Ko to work oarnestly, in order to establish proper protection for our harbor and pro- perty. All they bad to do was to furnish the menus, Mr. Ws. E Dooce ¢ dered = himseli in being permitted to be coment) | on ature inday between the imac, and be never felt so strong a de- to be back again in New York. E and commercial man there present tl mething, and that at once, to protect thei property, which was now.soriously im: porilled, When \¢ saw those two vessels (the Monitor Merrimac), .. * intoeach ot side,and that, coo, wi without lnving & s could not help fooling U ted in the system of directed her twenty-five guns 5 sides of the Merrie, they glanced of like As ul m oft ibber. The offoe: alt from throwing 9 b was just as much as would wall. Jb was a positive trith fui of beans against @ that we had nothing here to protect oursoives azuiust the Merrimac did che take itinig her h visit, Supposing she came into the bai by was there any thing to prove snd do any ting ste please: should have something het our city. He rejuiow 1 to Washingt hod to be alopted i rolth there bad been a comm At as to ith the anthorit inthe statement mide by the eotmitte 1 Lue prac: tical Suggestions connected therewith, that a sélect com F seven Teaibers bo appoluted vy the President, with power to carry bun same 1ato efive A member state. (hot thia was a very importaat mat- tor, and the Chamber would lis» to howe somethiog from the committes reative | kind of defences which wore proposed to be adopted. ihey all kuow the opinion ntertained of tho vapacities of ihe Morrimac. There wore many other yeasels ov difforent iodels and con- struetion, which might bo made ds available for harbor dofences. Mayor Orpyxe aa\( that, in the answor he was about to give to tho inquiry just propounded, he would simply que wer for bimeelf, All would agree that the model con- Biructed by Captain Ericsson was tho bost that could be brought forwardat that timo, He oame there tosay for him grit, that a model the same as that of the Monitor would be thy best safeguard we could have for the defences ofthe Harbor of this city. Several other suggestions had bean made, the President himself suggesting that some kind of a rain tight be adopted which would bo bettor than anything else for harbor ‘The Monivor, how- ever, was not onl defences, ps, 1 pt. defences for the harbor of Now York, his opinine rrould be that they should get guns double, even quadruple, the pealibre of those which are now usually adopted, and were to Bud yoseneae ry Par wv seven foot inbreadth, and Nate thems with imp: 3% B motal, like that of the Monitor, we could def; ‘The vessols which were 0 in oa30 of difficulty with England, were like those of the 4 They were now bui vessela like the Warrior, it we were to consi @ dozen gunboats which would be proof against shot, they would be the most service in our harbor’ defences. He Captain Ericsson was, therefore, opinion that ‘should call upon the it of our in order erect models, which would provide for this emergeno; The facility with, which a verse! like Monitor be worked was most extraordinary, Swedon protected her coasts from tue incursions of her formidable appo nent, Russia, with just such vessels as the Monitor, pro- senting & naval armament uarnalshedis the wang s Lord N thought he was bold when he forty- pounder; but we have for more than Ofty years used the py Pounder. - A vessel like the Warrior could only keep in the middle of tho harbor, ber months must elapse before the same could be completed | but if they proceeded to build those dozen gunboats they would be completed m fifty or sixty days, and then the city would have something they couid rely upon. They would build @ boat ever so small which could be made carry & gun of fifteen inches calibre. Mayor Orpyxr would asi tho question before Captain Ericsson sat down, whether these gunboats be whe ig mani: the Merrimac and keep her out of the Captain Ericsson said the only vulnerable moment io attacking a vosse) like the Merrimac was when the gua recoils, A number of gunboats firing at the gamo mo- pone de sure to hit the vessel at this particular A momber said that allusion had been made by-the last speaker in regard to the uocessities, in case of war with England, re Was not at proseht, nor no likeli- hood of our having a war with Engiand, as we were quite hearty friends at present. ‘Tho speaker himsolf would undertake to sink the Merrimac, should sho enter the harbor of Now York, with a few properly co.structed: tughoats. (Laughter.) They might laugh, but he was not making his assertion for the purpose of causing mer- riment, but could demonstrate what ho put forward. Let those beats be provided with iron ‘%,80 as to strike the enemy below water mark, and let them all run into her at the same time, and she would be sunk at once, Let them, instead of spending thousands of dol- lars upon unnecessary work, prepare defensive vessels, which could bo done in forty-eight hours, Some further discussion was here had on technicali- ties, when Mr. Caarima Goutp oifered the following amendment:— That in appointing the committee the gentlemen who, have just returned from Washington be three of the members, and that the committee have power to add to their number, not necessarily to be selected from mem- bers of the Chamber. Mr. Pater Coorrr wished to say a word in favor of the proposition whieh had been made by Captain Morgan. Tho steam ram, Copp by him, could be got up at small expense.’ If this answered all the purposes of bar- bor defence there was no necessity of goin; expense in providing gunboats. Seeing had passed a ,billj appropriating $1,000,000 for build- ing a battery, he written to Senator Hale stating that it would be better to spend that money upon several use- ful rams than throw itaway upon one which waa of 10 avail. Mr. Ricuarn Larners said that s>yeral’ gentle- men around him were in favor of asking the corporation of the city to issue half a million of’bonds for the purpose’ of providing defences for the harbor of thecity. This movement being for the defence of the city the taxpayers of the city would be willing to pay it. When the property of the citizens of New York was in jeopardy, it could not but be deemed an act of just noces- sity On their part that they should come forward and contribute to the funds about to be raised for providing the necessary means. He thought his Honor the Mayor would have uo objaction whatever in bringing tho mattor before the Board of Allermen for their action. It would, no doubt, be a mosy feasible way of raising tho money. Mayor Orpyax thought it a very good idea; but the very moment we fall back upon the city government ia these matters we meet with the same diflicultics as with tho government of tho United States. There is a great nye of time Led mee em ap ved unnecessary In going through t] getting funds according to this style. Since ha matiar at ‘tho harbor defences ‘boen brought before the State Lacislature the subject had been discvssed from day to day, put off from day to day—still nothing had been done there yet, and nothing will bedone, They had done nothing but debate the Project. It was desirable that the capitalists and mer- chants of this city should do themsclves credit in this matter aud contri::\c handsomely to the necessary amount. The same tiing was before them in Boston and Philadelphia. It was the part and p!aco of the geno- ral government of the United States to provide cdast de- fences, and we had nothing to do with it. In the a gestions made by the President he had only given own views. The whole matter, however, would be for the committee to consider. Before he sat down he would ask Captain Ericsson if twelve gunboats would be suffi- cient to ropel an attack on our harbor by a vossel like, the Merrimac. Mr. Ricuarv Laviers said {t seemed to him that there would be no difficulty whatever in having an ap- propriation given to the defence . fund the Corporation of this city, Ho thought it ‘was rathor an aspersion upon that body to insinuate that they would not promptly carry out a monsure ap- propriating certain sun for thefartheranco of our harry yr defences. The subject so nearly touched the hearts and pockets of all our citizens that it was one of the - gravest importance to the city or New York itself. Mi. Wittiam F. Donan here made the suggestion tho reporters should hand the copy of their reports to the chairman for supervision before leaving the room, was so absurd on the faco of it that the suggestion was pot at all taken un‘er considoration. Captain Maremaut also suggested that the reporters should confine their account of the meeting to the mere furnishing of a copy of the report of the committee sent to Washington. is also did not meot with approbation. The resolution of Captain Nye, endorsing the report, adment of Mr. 1d to the same, wero then ly adopted. The Chairman then named the the committee of seven to act ‘In accordance, , with the spirit of the reaolution:—Messis. Wm. E. . A. T. Stewart, R. A. Witthaus, W. B. Astor, C. F. Marshall, Denning Duer and A. A, Low. Captain Morgan, on motion, was aiterwards added to: the Committec, which then numbered @ight in all. ‘The duties of this committee will be rather oncrous, aa they have to inquire into and report upon the bost and Ghcapest method to be adopted in order to rondor our harbor defences secure in evory particular. It is sup- posed that they will call a convention of the shipbuilders of onr city, who will determine between the shortest and. best plansto be pursued in tho building, arming and eynipping tho veasel or vessels which will protect us from naval foes. Captain Ericssox, aftor the appointment of the commitiee, rosé and explained to the satia- faction of the Mayor the question which had oon asked by the Iatter relative to the successful opera- of gunboats against an attacking Merrimac. ‘he Chamber then a/journed. The Chamber was yesterday so crowded that several members had to reroain outside. Tt was tho largest meeting hold since the organization, and seldom has there boon more interest manifested in the Proncedings. The Merchants’ Exchange being now in the hands of the gov- ernment, the construction of a new building is being mooted among the merabers. This bulldii ‘ted on Wall street, and will furnish rooms dof Brokers, Chamber of Commerce, com- ii ag Te national school, Sandy Hook te- legraph, branch telegraphs to the Kast, ‘South, &c., ofllces for brokers, insurance companies, &c. ‘to enormous it the Senate Waking Up a North Carolina Villa; OUR ROANOKE ISLAND CORRESPONDENCE. Roaxoxe Istanp, N. C., March 9, 1862, The Reconnoissance Towards Columbia, N.C. Information having been received here a fow days since that the militia ordered out by proclamation of the Governor for tho defence of tho State were to mustor at Columbia on tho 9th of March, stops were takon to give them a surprise and make them prisoners. Columbia ie the principal town of Tyrrell county, and is situated on the Scoupnong river, about fifty miles from this place. ‘The whole region around Columbia produces a wild grape, trom which the well known Scoupnong (pronounced Skup-pe-noag) wino is made. ‘Accor lingly about noon yesterday the gunboats Pickety Vidette and Virginia, with the steamers Pilot Boy and Alice Price, and a military forco, started ua- der the command of Gen Foster. The mouth of the river was reached about nightfall, and the Virginia and Vidette came to anchor, their dranglt not pormitsing them to go up. The Pickot, under the command of Captain Ives, proceoded up the winding channel of the narrow river, ap anchored at tho bridge, which connects tho towm with tho western bank of the stream. She at first Drought ber guns to bear upon the structure to out off the retreat of the rebels, but, in order to more effectually secure this end, the draw was opened and fastened. In the mean time the troops disembarked below and marched about four miles along a road which led in @ circuitous route to the towa, The moon was shining brightly, aud woods, road, troops, all wore bathed ia her soft light. A guide, well acquainted with tho vi- cinity, conducted our forces to the town, which, when roxched, was surrounded by one portion of the troops, while enother entered the principal street. The clanging of muskets on the pavomont was tho first intimation the jnbabitants had of our approach, and thoy rushed fran- tically about. The greater part of them were intoxt- cated, and it seemed ag if they were in the inidst of @ onrongal. No soldiers w ere found, however, and it afterwards transpired that the place of muster had been suddenly changed, though coma of tho pooplo insisted that it had not, but they refused to turn out be~ they were ‘for the Union.” All professed we Union men. A fow taken into cus. tody wore relensed almost immediately. ‘The town was searched for arms aad rebel documenta. A writ of sequestration was found dispesing of notes, payable to Messrs. Bostwick, Hussey & Co.,of New York. ‘Tho rebel petitioner prayed to be relieved of the debt, and a certain shi was allowed to the Confer government. The Post Oiflce was examined, aad a quan tity of letters found. Their conter tant, In one portion of the building ree shinplastera were discovered, Vt oh good white pa per, and varying in devomination fram twenty-five conte pwards. ‘They appeared tw be fash from tho hands ot ou thems