The gazette., 1799-04-15


then equipt ana ient 10 fea. two frisates Of "A
guns, and one Of SO; three aoops o. iS, II &c
Of p. and three Of Fl guns each e Ght cutters
and three galies. No others have ilnce gone
to fcl, tho f:veral a-e nearly ready. ThoIe in
fervice are, at preftnt in different parts G. tie
We4in1ies where they are employed ln.con-
voying our merchant veIels, and keeping the
French privateers in Ut. One Of them, the
Conltelation, Of So guns and 3o7 men, Lately
performed very handlome exploit, which can
not fail to have very happy effect upon the
character and future conduct Of our navy. She
cam. up with the French frigate the Inlurgen G,
very fire vsGel, of 20 guns and 400 men,
which was cruifing for American ihips, and
had lately captured 4 rnall armed veael Of the
Uuited States. This hip Of iuch fu9erior force
lhe took, after and engagement Of an hour and
quarter, 10 which the French had 20 men
men killed, and 46 wounded f; and the Ame-i-
cans one killed, and three wounded.
Since this affair, anoher Of our frigates, the
United States, has funk French Prvateer in
the Weaindies, which had taken many of our
merchant vefels but the crew was f4ved. 1t
is reported, and | believe with truth, that the
fame frigate has lately taken another Privateer,
and retaken a Britith merchant fhip which the
had captured. This is returning The favour
which the Briti(h lave 70 often done US; for
they have ret4ken and releaied very many Of
our GiPs.
In my laf | mentioned, that the number Of
private thips armed in the United States, fnce
PermGion was given for that purPole, was
computed at $50, carrying in the whole 26z5
guns. BY authentic returns, it fince appears,
that the number is 365, carrying z7z3 guns,
and 6S45 men. This private armament is fill
going on with great vigour and inltances Of
its efficiency in protecting trade, daily occur.
AmidR thsle maritime exertioIs, preparations
by land have not been neglected but as the
danger in that quarter IS lefs threatening, the
greatea and mott exPenlive part of thofe pre-
ParatiOns, is left dependant on oircumhances.
The army voted at the former ielion will be
:aifed, unleis the ilate Of things fhould mate.
rally change for the better and arrangements
are made 70" that PurPole: but the large ad
ditons which Congre{s has provided for in the
LAT fenion, are not 20 take place unlefs 50 in
" cafe war lhould break out between the Uni,ed
" States and foreign European power /; ar in
" cafe Imminent danger Ut iovaiion of their terri
I" tory b. any luch power, fhall, in the opinion
" Of the Prefdent, be dlcovered 70 exit" In
either Of thoie cafes, he i authorized to raife
twenty four additional regiments of infantry,
one regiment and one battalion OF riAemen, a
battalion Of artillery, and three regiments Of
cavalry or fuch Part Of the whole force as he
fhall judge necefary. The PIefent army IS alfo
to be increafed, in that cafe, to a war eAablih-
ment which almoR doubles the number Of
Prvates in each reg gimeut. The whole r1guar
force, therefore, that may be raifed, 10 cafe of
war, amounts 70 about ff.y thouland men, ex-
clulive Of voluneeis and mil itia.
That this ad iitional force may Be fpeedily
raifed, at any moment which il is wlntel, the
PreGdent Is further authorized to proceed i'm
mediately to the appointment of all the officers
a bulncis which, in 70 extenfve a county,
from every part Of which it IS proper to make
feeaions, has been found, from experience, TO
be attended with much diff -ulty and delay
But the officers being once appointed, and pro
perly organ zed, the enlitments may commence
at any moment, when occafon lhall require the
force to be actually raied. The officers, how
ever. are not to receive pay till called into ac-
tnal fervice: and the authority to raif. this
eventual army is TO expire at the end Of the
next leiion Of Congref,. The number Of vol
unteers which the Preiident may accept, pur.
fuant to former acts, is limited to about feventy
fix thoufand, who are TO be divided among the
aates in proportion to their REFLECTIVE popula-
tion. The act for making draft of militia 20
be held in readiness, expired al the end of the
feiiion, and was not renewed il being corfid-
cred that this draft was attended with fome
trouble and expenle to the militia, and did not,
in fact, put them in better Rate for fervicc !;
for which reafon it was thought bet to leave
the matter TO the Prelideot who is empowered
by the conltituion and the laws. to call out
fnch portions Of the militia, in cafe Of need, a,
circumstances may sender nccefary.
1t was objected by fome, that lnce there is
now lefs danger Of invafon than heretofore,
and the French government had exhibited fome