The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-06-23

per that they ihculd receive due flare of com
incubation, when their actions eutt.e them TO II.
In noticing the departure of the LAT vee, of rho
iquadron, we do not htiitate To fay that the Ma
Wy department has done It's duty. Un,e, the
circumstances attending the expedition, the ma
ton had right TO expect p,omptnefs and eper.
gy. Facts will ihew that they have rot been diff.
appointed.
On the If of April 1901, the F,ieatc Proficient
of "A guns, the frigates CongrefS and CouR< la
ton OF SO guns each, the E.iex of 8. guns.
and the John Adams armed en- flute, lying
ordinary in the Eaftern Branch, were put into
comniiiion. In confequerce Of the Captains
and the Superintendent of the yard being oCga-
ged on court of Enquiry, fome as meribcrsof
the court, and othersas wituehes, they were I'm
able to attend to their REFLECTIVE ihips until the
18th OF April. From that day an unabatinr cx-
ef1tor was made'to put the nps 20 iea and the
i'ft OF them LETT the Eaftern Branch on the / eth
infant, within period of lefs than two
months.
Let US compare the time confirmed on this oc-
caGon, with that taken up with other equipments
made in other ports ofthe United States.
On the 5th Feb. 1902, the Adams, LIVING in
the harbour of New York, was put in cor,,,,1iII
on, and we well recollett that it was an obiet4
with the governments fend her 10 Tea as early
AS ihe could be fitted out. notwithstanding all
tie cxettions that were uied on this location TO
equip the Adams for fea, ihe was not prepared
to fail till the 10th OF June, lso2-Tht Adams
is irnall segun frigate.
On the 4th May, 1903, the Contribution, living
IN the harbour of Bottom, WIS put in commiiiiua
and every exertion was made to equip her for
fea.-She was not ready for fca, however, till
the 18th Auguft, 1903. The Contribution is a
"A gun frigate.
On the Gift May, 1908, the frigate Ph;ladel-
phia, lying IN the harbour of Philadelphia, was
put IN committeeman every effort was ufcd
to equip her for fea. She was not ready how
ever, till the 2sth July 1908. The Philadelphia
is a 40 gun flip.
From thefe facts it appears, that in New
York it took near four months to fit out fmal
SO gun frgate; that in Bottom it took three
months to fit out one IL gun ihip and that in
Philadelphia it took more than two months to
fit out one 40 gun fhip; while in the Eaftsru
Branch, one Al gun frigate, two So gun frigates,
one 80 gun frgate and frigate armed e,lfae.
have been fitted out in lefs than two months
from the time that their repairs commenced.
While on this iubiett, it may not be impro-
per briefly to notice tome other objections which
have been urged againt laying up our national
fhips IN the Eaftern Branch, which will flew
that they have arifen either from Intentional
characterization, from ignorance, or from local
prejudice.
The Eafern Branch is objected to on account,
of its great diftance from the Sea. II is true
that the Eafern Branch is a comfortable dill.
lance from the fea; but this very circrmRance
renders It ltis liable TO the affaults of an enenv
it place could have been fcleGted, nearer the
lea, pojeiled of all tie advantages of the EAT
tern Branch, it ought to have been preferred for
national Dock Yard but fuch a place cam
not be named. The Eaftern Branch fnrniih.a
fpacious and fate harbour, free from the worm,
or ri. IL, y al
vernment.
The navigation is alledged to be difficult.
But this is not true. There are fo,ne difficult
ties; but they are comparatively trifling, and
may be eafly overcon.e.,--
/ The greatef difficulty in the navigation from
the mouth of the Potomac to the anchorins
ground in the Eafern Branch, is near the mouth
ofthe Branch, and gentlemen well acquainted
with this difficulty fay that il might be removed
at very finall expence. On Mattawonan, the
ihoa'eft part oftbe channel Of the Potomac from
the mouth of the Eaftern Branch, there is o2
! feet water at half food, and on Maryland point
winch is the next fhoal IN niagnitude 90 set
the bottom is perfectly foft. This is water fuf.
fcient for the largef lhip in our fervice with all
her guns and water on board, and the bottoms
OF tbefe fhoals being foft many feet down, it is
obvious that the depth of water upon them
might be encreafed 70 as to be deep enough for
ihip ofthe line, with guns, proviiion, water g.
all her flores on board.
: Theft facts may be confidently prefented 10
the public as Deceive vindication of the gene
: raj government in making the Eahern Branch
the principal depoft of the Navy, and as con-
cluiive evidence, derived from experience, of the
equality, if not fnperiority of this yard to all
Others in the United States. This ftatement
might not have been made but for the numerous
falfehoods lately circulated through the Union,
and feizcd upon with avidity by local or party
prejudice. 1t has been faid that the Eaftern
Branch was milerably adapted for naval fcite,
aud that the Navy department have been flame-
! fully remifs in the difcharge of their DUTY
Iruftlng to the unprecedented difcernment of our
fellow-citizens, on this occa6on, as on MANY
others, we offer them facts. PoneHed of thefe
! we conhde in the correctness of their decifion.
SANDER, disappointment and envy will, as long
as the world endures, delight in detraeting from,
merit but the man who discharges his DUTY
promptly and ably, may fafely truff his cha.
raeter to the award of an enlightened people.
| Nat. Lut.
4 ~ rJH &c ffta