To the Editor of the Times: As Mr. D- -n has seen fit, in your paper of this date, to refer to a conversation had with me at the Union Club, on the subject of the machinery of Mr. Jerome's yacht, the Clara Clarita, and as his reference to only a portion of the conversation must have arisen from a supposition that the remainder was immaterial to the question, I deem it but proper, both in justice to truth as well as to Mr. D- -n's reputation as an engineer, to recapitulate the entire conversation. Mr. Dn, after stating that the machinery was not such as was calculated to develop satisfactorily the fine qualities of the yacht-but that he was blameless for it, further than regarded its adaptation-answered my inquiry as to what speed could be got out of the vessel with her "adapted machinery" by the reply that she would make 11 to 12 knots an hour, (a statement, by-the-by, which, when I made it to Mr. Jerome, so surprised him as to occasion the exclamation, that "if she could not go faster than that, he would scuttle her.) But, continued Mr. Do n -n, with such machinery as could be put in the boat, giving me the entire control of its construction, I will guarantee a speed of 16 to 17 knots; and further, the new machinery will require but twenty feet of the length of the vessel, in lieu of the two-thirds of her capacity occupied by the present "adaptation." Now, leaving aside the fact of Mr. D- -n's denial that he was present at the trial trip, and that the engine was worked by him, and therefore that its capacities were never fairly tested-the value of which denial may be ascertained by reference to the subjoined correspondence-it appears to me but fair to calculate, that as Mr. Jerome's yacht, with an estimated speed of twelve knots, went at the extraordinary rate of about half a knot, until she met the tide, when she went backward, it appears, I say, but fair to calculate that with Mr. D. -n's improved machinery, -n's minimum of steam suc she would not have gone much faster than Mr. D cess, a government vessel. In conclusion, I fear that when Mr. D- -n admitted, for the purpose of his discussion with the Navy Department, that he was "profoundly ignorant of a steam engine, and supposed a cylinder-head to be a full moon," he made an admission of which it will be extremely difficult to disabuse the public, if his future engineering efforts continue to be crowned with the brilliant success of his "adaptation" of the machinery of the Clara Clarita. Yours, very truly, E. RIGGS. MR. RIGGS TO CAPTAIN SMITII. NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 1864. Captain Alex. Smith: DEAR SIR-Will you please to state who were on board at the trial trip of the Clara Clarita, who worked the engine, who assisted, and about how long you were out? Yours, &c., E. RIGGS. CAPTAIN SMITH'S REPLY. E. Riggs, Esq: Feb. 8, 1864. DEAR SIR-In reply to your favor of this date, I would state that there was on board the Clara Clarita on her trial trip, Mr. D— -n, Mr. T. F. Rowland, and Warren E. Hill, of the Continental Works; Mr. Foulkes, the builder of the yacht; Mr. Jerome, the owner; Mr. Wm. Rowland, the joiner; some of the mechanics of the Continental Works, and the ship's company for the day. We were underway two hours and a half, the engine being run by Mr. D- -n, assisted by Messrs. Hill and Rowland. This, I believe, answers all your questions, yet I beg to add, that which seemed to me important, viz : that five weeks previously, I was instructed to get up steam, which I did, and Mr. D- ―n worked the engine at the dock several hours. I also desire to inform you that on Saturday last, in a conversation with Mr. T. F. Rowland, of the Continental Works, he informed me that what Mr. Jerome had written (referring to his communication in the Times of Saturday last) was all true. I have been in command of the Clara Clarita since the 18th day of August last, and I have never known any thing to have been done appertaining to her machinery, except under the direction of Mr. Dn. For so small a matter as a bilgepump, which I required, Mr. Rowland informed me that he would be obliged to consult Mr. D -n. Yours, &c., ALEX. M. SMITH, Commanding Yacht Clara Clarita. (H.) "I will suppose a little cylinder, one inch in diameter, and of indefinite length, and a piston fitting in it, steam-tight, but without friction; and I will further suppose a cubic inch of water to be passed into the bottom of that cylinder, and the piston to be then let down on the water; and I will suppose that on the top of that piston there is a platform carrying a ton weight of bricks."-D- -n's speech in the Mattingly Case, p. 16, |