Great stress has been laid upon the chain-plating of the Kearsarge, and it is assumed by interested parties that, but for this armour, the contest would have resulted differently. A pamphlet lately published in this city, entitled "The Career of the Alabama,"[2] makes the following statements: "The Federal Government had fitted out the Kearsarge, a new vessel of great speed, _iron-coated_," &c. (p. 23). "She," the Kearsarge, "appeared to be _temporarily_ plated with iron chains." (p. 38.) (In the previous quotation, it would appear she had so been plated by the Federal Government: both statements are absolutely incorrect, as will shortly be seen.) "It was frequently observed that shot and shell struck against the Kearsarge's side, and harmlessly rebounded, bursting outside, and doing no damage to the Federal crew." "Another advantage accruing from this was that it sank her very low in the water, so low in fact, that the heads of the men who were in the boats were on the level of the Kearsarge's deck." (p. 39.) "As before observed, the sides of the Kearsarge _were trailed all over with chain cables_." (p. 41). The author of the pamphlet in question has judiciously refrained from giving his name. A greater number of more unblushing misrepresentations never were contained in an equal space. In his official report to the Confederate Envoy, Mr. Mason, Captain Semmes makes the following statements: "At the end of the engagement, it was discovered by those of our officers who went alongside the enemy's ship with the wounded, that her midship section on both sides was thoroughly iron-coated; _this having been done with chain constructed for the purpose_, (_!_) placed perpendicularly from the rail to the water's edge, the whole covered over by a thin outer planking, which gave no indication of the armour beneath. This planking had been ripped off in every direction (!) by our shot and shell, the chain broken and indented in many places, and forced partly into the ship's side. She was most effectually guarded, however, in this section from penetration." "The enemy was heavier than myself, both in ship, battery, and crew, (!) _but I did not know until the action was over that she was also iron-clad_."