The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1807-08-06 00:00:00, page 3

plunging batteries cn Staten Island
shore. The distance between these bat
teries will be less- than one mile. In
rear of this position is an elevated spot
lor a close redoubt, capable of contain
ing 500 men. Its cannon will afford
ample protection to the horizontal bat*
tery on the pier, and at the same time
give a plunging fire cn the enemy. At
300 yards from this redoubt, is a spot
lor a redoubt and battery of field fortifi
cation, to contain 120 men and 8 pieces
of artillery. This work affords the dou
ble advantage of enfilading the river
through the Narrows, and of covering
the l ight wing of an admirable encamp
ment for 3000 men.
To enforce more effectually the de
fence oi the passage, it is proposed to
station two floating batteries, armed
with heavy guns, on the north side of
the two opposite horizontal batteries,
attended by a sufficient number of gun
boats. These may witli great facility
form a line ol fire occupying the full
space from the one shore to the other,
and thus effectually strengthen the de
fence of the channel, and be fully pro
tected by the fortifications and batteries
on the shores.
The Narrows thus garnished with for
tifications, and garrisoned, and, in case
ot solemn war and actual invasion, sup
ported by additional troops in two ad
vantageous camps, with the proposed
floating batteries and gun boats, affords
a formidable and sufficient defence for
the entrance of the harbour. Hut the
importance of the object ought not to
permit the least neglect of any addition
, al obstruction against an invading ene
my. A cone sunk in the centre, crowned
■with four 32 pounders, with chains ex
tending to the horizontal batteries on
the Staten Island $« Long Island shores,
supported by the two flouting batteries,
and gun boats within the chain, and the
harbour of New-York becomes the most
formidable and best secured of any
within my knowledge.
The Narrows being thus secured, the
ypsitions on both sides are the places
where the troops of the states of New
and New-Jcrsey will assemble,
anti be ready to oppose the landing of
any troops destined for the assault of
the works. 'Five harbour of N. York
then becomes the safe depot of the pro
duce of an immensely rich and exten
sive country; and the city, inaccessible
to any invasion, may sec the end of war,
without molestation or danger. *
I return to the principle upon which
my opinion is founded, viz. That who
ever is master of the harbottirof N. York,
is net only master of the cztyr but of all
the places to a great extent in, the coun
try.—No illustration can be necessary
on this highly interesting position.”
W II E E LING,
Thursday, Gth August, 1807.
No Paper —For a few week' we have been
under the ncct fiV y of i fluing the Repofitory on
writing paper On account of the importance
of the late intelligence from Norfolk, this alter
native was preferred to fufpending the paper
at a period fo much more interefting than or
dinary. Applications have been made at Red
ffoneand at Chamberlburg, for printing paper
From the latter place a fmall quantity ij on the
way, and more is expefted. As it is not the
willi of the Editor to publifh the Repofit,ory on
v/riung paper, he has concluded to fufpend it
for a fliort period, until a fnppiy of printing pa
per lliall enable him to ifTue it in its proper
form—A year’s fubferiprion being for jjnum
be:9, this arrangement, occafioned by the fcar
city of paper in this country, will not be at
tended with any expenfe to fubfetibers.
The Wheeling Company of Light-infan
try, after having met on parade, on
Saturday the 1st inst. took into con
sideration the sundry attacks on our
national sovereignty,and violations of
our neutral rights,-and their late wan
ton outrage on the frigate Chcsapeak,
unanimously adopted the following
resolutions:—
1. Resolved,That we view with horror
and indignation the late outrage com
mitted on the Chesapeake, off the capes
of Virginia, as well as the impressment
of our seamen, .bv the British armed
vessels. -• - ;*•
2. Resolved, That it has been the po
licy of onr government to cultivate peace
v, ith all the world, because it is our wish
as well as our interest.
3. Resolved, 'i hat although wc desire
i peace with the greatest sincerity, yet we
hold ourselves ready, at the call of our
government, to repel any invasion of our
rights and honour, which we hold sa
cred.
A-. Resolved, That we are determined
to maintain the rights and dignity of our
country with our lives and fortunes, and
that we pledge ourselves to support go
vernment in any honourable measures
which they may adopt in any‘case of
emergency.
5. Resolved, That the offending ships
at Hampton have wantonly violated the
law of nations, and thereby forfeited
.theirtitle to national and individual hos- •
piiality.
6. Resolved\ That with the utmost re- i
gret we lament the loss of the slaugh
i tered citizens and sincerely sympathise
f with those who were wounded cn board
the Chesapeak.
. Resohed) That' we view, .with the
highest admiration the spirited and jja
triotick exertions of our lellow-citizehs
at Norfolk, Portsmouth and Hampton.
8. Resolved, That the proclamation of
the President of the United States, offi
cially-prohibiting the exercise of hospi
tality to the British vessels off Hampton,
and any other armed vessels that may
heceaftcr intrude upon us, meets with
our cordial approbation. t
A Quebeck paper of the 29thjune con
tains the following article, which, if
it be correct, supports the idea that the
attack on the Chesapeak was in conse
quence of orders from the English
government. »
“ We learn by the arrival of Captain
Bettesworth, of his Majesty’s frigate
Crocodile, that orders had been received
by the King’s ships on the Halifax sta
tion, to board the American frigate now
at isea, and take by force every British
seaman that may tafouiul on board her."
On the lGth of July, a midshipman
and four men who had landed on the
beach from the English Vessels then off
Cape Ilenry, were discovered and de
tained by the militia.
On the 21st July all the British ships
left the Capes below Norfolk.—At 10
o’clock on the morning of the 22nd they
were at anchor again.
Accounts have reached the city, dat
ed late in June, that the Spaniards at
Mobile have siezed 200 stand of arms,
and a quantity of ammunition, belong
ing to the United States, destined from
New Orleans to fort Stoddart. This
seizure was made by the Spanish com
mandant at Mobile, and afterwards ap- \
proved by the governor general of the
Florid as. \\Vash. city paper. J *
New orders have been issued by the
British board of admiralty, to detain
and send in for adjudication, all vessels
dest ined to or from N.Orleans,under the
slightest circumstances of suspicion of
their having French or Spanish proper
ty on board.—And the British govern
ment have done away all responsibility
| on the part of any captain of any ship of
i war or privateer, so that he is sot per