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Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
U. S. Steamer Richmond,
Since we left the United States we have had quite an agreeable cruise, so far. After a passage of twenty-three days and some hours from Hampton Roads, we arrived at Gibraltar.
During the passage we had a fine chance of testing the Richmond and her qualities. --We had plenty of wind, sea, sail and steam, in all of which she has disappointed us. She cannot hold her own on the wind, her bottom being so round, and keel too small to keep her from making lee-way; and in any kind of rough sea, she can out-rock any of your patent cradles for babies; and under sail or steam, or both combined, she is very slow, in comparison to what was expected of her. The impression seems to be that her propeller is too small, and too near the surface of the water; it being so near the surface that in an ordinary swell on the ocean it is thrown out of the water, thereby causing the engine to race badly, consequently racking the machinery to a certain extent.
However, she makes up for all in her good looks.
She has been the beauty of every harbor we have visited; and being kept strictly clean, entices many visitors, and receives man flattering praises.
Gibraltar is all that it is represented to be — the greatest fort in the world.
I don't think it possible that it could be taken in any way, even if half manned.
Just imagine an excavated and towering rock, about twice the circumference of Fort Monroe, pierced with hundreds of port-holes, so that guns can be brought to bear on any conceivable point of attack, and you may form some idea of its impenetrableness.
Its capacity for accommodation of soldiers is immense, it being galleried off, and any quantity of rooms and quarters for officers and soldiers erected therein, the whole being studded with millions of feet of heavy timber.
At the base of the rock is a very nice little city, containing about fifteen thousand inhabitants, composed of all nations, from the sooty Ethiopia and turbaned Moor, to the fine, fine old English gentleman.
The whole island is enclosed by a water battery that protects every accessible landing.
It is indeed the key to the Mediterranean, situated as it is in proximity to the opposite shore, as Old Point to the Rip-Raps.
We stood on our decks and had fine views of parts of two countries — i. e., Spain and Africa.
The scenes were very interesting to any reflecting mind, requiring an immensity of thought to try to trace and locate the many historical facts and legendary accounts connected with this world-renowned locality.
The natural scenes are very grand, being sublimely mountainous, and dotted here and there with towns and villages, citadels and cloisters, and clean and white farm houses, or, perhaps, a tented city of soldiers.
In all, it strikes one with those feelings that bring him, as it were, with awe to the presence of that Almighty Being, whose will created and peopled those wonderful scenes.
After a stay of ten days, we left Gibraltar for Spezzia, in Sardinia, where we arrived, after a pleasant passage of five days. Spezzia is beautifully situated, but scatteringly built around a part of an amphitheater-shaped bay, almost land-locked with towering mountains, affording an excellent and safe harbor.
The scenery around it, at this season of the year, is very romantic; and, from all accounts, it is really enchanting in the summer season, at which time the city is very lively, being a watering place, and the resort of the nabobs of the country.--I have had some very pleasant rambles around the meandering of the bay, and about the farm-houses, getting acquainted with the owners and drinking the pure juice of the grape, of their own making.
The people are very hospitable to, and like, the Americans, and express much regret at the state of our internal affairs at home.
They fear, and not without cause, that it will injure their expectations, as they are now at war, and are about swapping their King, which they consider a long stride towards republicanism.
After a stay of ten days, we left for Genoa, and arrived there after a few hours' run. --Genoa, the birth-place of the discoverer of our country, is quite an extensive and noted city — containing about two hundred thousand inhabitants, an extensive export trade, the flags of all nations flying in its harbor, which, like all the cities in this country, is well protected by fortifications.
The city being built on the base and slopes of the mountains, with very high houses (eight and nine stories) towering one above the other, and its statues, citadels, and large public buildings, churches, &c., interspersed, give it, from the water, a density in appearance quite remarkable.
On entering the city, you will not be disappointed; it is very compactly built, with narrow streets, which are kept tolerably clean.
It has the din of a large city, with the people hurrying to and fro about their business. --Women and children work here.
The sail-making is done here almost entirely by females, and, in fact, the most of the mechanical branches have women about them as saleswomen, or account keepers, &c.
After a stay of seven days (to my regret) we left for Spezzia again; arrived, and lay there for twenty days, waiting for the store-ship Release to start for home, to take the prisoners and invalids, and letters we had to send home.
On the 4th of January we started for this place.
After a boisterous passage of eleven days we made haven.
On our way here we touched in at Gaeta, where the Sardinians had the King of Naples penned up, they trenching and throwing bombshells at a wild rate.
The Commodore, without casting anchor, learned the news through the visit of a French officer, and put us on our course again for this place.
Since then, the Sardinians have taken "Gaeta." But the King of Naples made good his escape in a Spanish vessel.
This place, like the rest, is strongly fortified.
The city is in the hands of the Sardinian troops, and the forts in the hands of the King of Naples' troops.
But to save the city from being razed, they have thus far avoided an action; but we expect every day to receive orders to clear out of the harbor, and stand off and see fair play.
It will be a grand sight, as the harbor forms an amphitheater, with forts all around opposite to the city.
The city forts are on the hills in the rear.
Water, or, as it is called, Amphitheater street, is very uniformly built, and could be, and no doubt will be, thrown into a water battery, thereby affording considerable protection to the city, and would be very annoying to the enemy.
The Sardinian fleet is daily expected here.
I think the two combined would soon silence the besieged.
From reports I hear they are very disaffected, and no longer than the 21st of this month seven officers of high rank, with forty privates, deserted from the forts and came over to the Sardinians.
I am very sorry to hear of the troubles at home, and if they continue you may expect me home sooner than at first anticipated; for if old Virginia, the birth-place of my childhood, should leave the Union, your old friend will share her fate.
The Daily Dispatch: April 2, 1861. Richmond Dispatch. 4 pages. by Cowardin & Hammersley. Richmond. April 2, 1861. microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mi : Proquest. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
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