Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1802-07-12


Efficiently large for The whole, il would have
been proper 20 make further acqniition.
have judi proved that il was inefficient even
for one feventy four, 70 that the only remaining
quelfion was. whether the acquifition ihould be
made by renting or by purchaling.
Reader recollea that Mr.. Stoddcrt was to
build 6x feven y-four gun lhips, an ! that they
were to be 5uit in different parts of the United
States, and not all together at Phi ladelphia, as
the National Intelligencer pretends; or IN Ma.
SToDDsRr's orrics, ar tbe iav5figaf0rs jsem TO
haze fbswbf. Reeollea that even ve1el Of so
tons burthen cannot be built without, having a
convenience ola yard, the purpofe of which is
90 fpread abroad all the different timbers, 70
that, as the work properties, the architect may,
with cafe and certainty, feled the piece which
may bea fuit the thing to be done.
Every body that knows any thing about a
hip, knows alto, that, when timbers are OBJ
tanned il is ufual TO prefervs the natural crooks
and bends becaufe il is by far better, and Of
ten faves much labor when one of thefe can be
had to fut the purpofe. This can be determin-
cd at once by the eye, and rule, when the tim
bers are fpresd abroad. This Is 70 clear, and 70
invariably the cafe, that every man who knows
any thing about it, will think this expiration
unnecedary. Butthere are many well Informed
and well meaning men who perhaps never did,
and perhaps never will fee or know any thing
about the progrefs of building fhip, and who
will really believe that the navy yard 10 Phis-
delphia, which have jua fhewn was too I'm all
for Jingle frigate, would anfwer, at the fame
time, for the numerous workmen who might
be employed in building the feveral fevenly-
fours at Portfmouth IN Hampfhire) Chareion
(MaGachufeus,) Newyork, Philadelphia, Gof
port (Virginia) and the City of Warrington.
Can there be any thing more foolilh than TO
believe this Or more wicked, if not believed
thar to circulate il with view to injure the
sharaee- of Mr.. Stoddert
Mr.. Smith fAys that the navy yard in Phila-
delpha was futflcient for all thef- purPofes.-
For the fake OF expsjing him tbe more, l will ad-
nit it TO be 70. How ridiculous would il then
be to fee fmall veaels difpAtclied from different
parts Of the United States for few pieces Of
timber and alto TO fee all the woi kmen idle for
the want of iheie timb=rs, which ought to have
been not only at hand, bnt fpreat out in yard
of iufffcient dmeniions TO contain the whole,
iide by Gde By fueh proceedings the pubic
credit, lervice, character, and money would
have been mott fhamefu ly facri6ced and watt
ed. This is the attocious imputation that
Smith is defrous of fixing upon Stoddert and
it is from this imputation thar have eEdea-
voured to clear him.
From fuch fcandalous and blnndeiing milf
tatement, il is clear that the editor Ct the Ma
tional Inrelligencer, and all correspondent, are
either un6t TO write or print upon the fubjea
of the navy, or that they have mott wiekedly
81 - >,Io
credulity of thofe who have not had the oppor.
tuni,y of knowing better. This papsr Is par
tcularly recommended, by fome of the mem
bers Of Congrefs to their conltuents and this
is the way in which the people are mpofed
upon. This is the caufe why they have been
reduced to load with the blsckelt terms of
detetation fuch meritorious men as Benjamin
Stoddert a man, whole name will rife in futre,
when puny Smith, his councillors, correlpond-
ents, eulogias and fupPorsers, will fink into con-
tempt.
have faid it, and now repeat 1t, chat the
Fix feventy -four gun thips, could not have been
built without a navy yard TO each ; that the
law which directed the fhips to be built did, by
implication, at the fame time dned the acquiT-
zion of navy yards and it was only lefe to
MIR. Stoddcrt 70 chufe, whether he would pur-
ehafe or rent them. He preferred the former |;
and think with reafon.
If all Congrefs were to form itfelf into
committee Of inveaig alton, and fhould make an
unanimous report and relolution to the contrary
l III ,uld have no better opinion of them, than
/ have Of the committee Whole report is now
alluded to. Vice never becomes virtue, becaufe
il is embraced by multitude. France lately
with one voice embraced, 6ra deilm, and then
atheifm. All France was foon covered with
crimes, and drowned in tears. Thofc deltruc-
tive tenets are now completely abandoned |;
peace and confidence are renored. So lkswife
our atheiRs and rheorias, are profcribing truth,
merit and virtue. They have been, in many
cafes, followed by well meaning men. How
long this deluhon will continue mutt depend
upon the efforts that fhall BE- made 10 counteraA
il. 1t is the duty Of every man who can aid
In fervice 70 important, &c do 70. II is this,
which has induced the writer of the prelent,