The Enquirer

New-York. October 31.

GRAND LAUNCH

On Saturday morning, 15 minutes before 9 o'clock, the Steam-Battery 'Fulton the First,' was launched into her destined element, from the ship-yard of Messrs. Adam and Noah Brown, at Manhattan Island, on the East River in this city. The tide was full, and the preparations of the workmen were so complete, that a few minutes before the appointed hour she started on her ways, and moved handsomely into the water, without any accident but some personal injury to one or two of the workmen, from the falling of some timber.

The spectacle exhibited on this occasion, was one of the most magnificent and interesting ever witnessed in this city or country. -- Commodore Lewis's flotilla were dressed in colors, and moored in line across the river east of the yard. The Steam-Boats Fulton & Paragon, with select companies on board, and the Firefly and Horse-Boat Williamsburgh, with their decks covered with passengers, were on the river, and a large number of other vessels and boats, amounting to upwards of two hundred, were present. The neighboring docks, shores, houses, &c. were covered with people; and the whole number of spectators was variously estimated, to amount from ten to fifteen thousand. The Governor's Guards, and a detachment of the city artillery, attended the launch, and contributed to the honors of the day.

On her reaching the water, the first gun was fired by the Fulton, and followed by a salute from the gun-boats, and artillery on shore, and a feu-de-jie from the infantry. The different sections of the multitude rent the air with their repeated acclamations: and when captain Porter (commander of the Battery) made his appearance, he was hailed with 3 cheers from the water parties, as was Commodore Decatur on passing in his barge.

The Fulton entered the water under the flag of the United States, and an emblematic standard, representing the genius of America standing securely amidst the destruction of her maritime enemies by explosion and conflagration from our harbor defences, under the memorable inscription of "Free Trade and Sailor's Rights." A band of music was launched in her, and responded to the patriotic airs from the shore, and boats in the vicinity.

His Excellency the Governor, with the various military and naval Commanders and officers in this district, the Committee of Defence, and a large number of the most respectable characters in the city, witnessed the important occurrence; and a full proportion of ladies of fashion and distinction graced the occasion with their presence.

The weather was remarkably fine for the season, and the tout ensemble of the scene, on the harbor and surrounding shores, was animating and superb almost beyond description.

The construction of this formidable engine of defence, (a frigate or floating battery, moved by steam, armed and defended at all points for offensive and defensive warfare,) has, so far, reflected much credit on the ingenuity and diligence of the gentlemen who have planned and built it: and the doubts of such as have not been sanguine in their conceptions of its efficiency against ships of war, are dissipated as the work progresses towards its completion. Nor can any person, we presume, examine the Fulton thoroughly and judiciously, without feeling a conviction of the confidence and security to be derived from such an instrument of destruction against any force which may be found in calms or light winds, at any time within our sounds, bays, or harbors. Her cannon, we understand, will be thirty-two pounders, with carronades or gunades (or short pieces) of nearly or quite double that calibre; and ample defence against boarding, as well as injury to her machinery from an enemy's shot, is provided. Her machinery and armament are in great forwardness, and will be completed with all possible dispatch; and a crew is recruiting under the heroic Porter, from which every thing of the gallant & daring achievements of our skilful and hardy seamen may be expected.

The Fulton is the first vessel or battery of her kind ever constructed, and if her opportunity shall display her potency with half the success which has crowned the steam-boat experiments of col. Fulton, his fame as an engineer and mechanician will be greatly enhanced, and an improvement in the art of naval defence be effected, beyond all the boasted experiments of the old world, which will form an era in the fabrication of marine batteries, and perpetuate the memory of its inventor, to the latest annals of maritime warfare.

Columbian.

We are informed that the anchor made use of to bring up the Steam-Frigate was taken from the British brig Dispatch. She left it behind her, in her hurry to escape, at the memorable attack on Stonington.

Mor. Adv.