Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-08-22
From The B0s TON cENTlNEL.
Revirsv Of 1eEsrson's administrator.

Wealth istthe nerve of national power.
In conflicts between kingdoms it is the
source ofrecruiting armies, whose ranks
-are timed By slaughter and disease. lsnot
only sconquers by land, bat it opeas the
empire of the. ocean. Must it not then ex-
cite surprise and regret,sio see Mr.. Jefcr-
son, lavishing the treasure Of the nation, the
only sure defence against the disposition,
or the actual cncroachmcnt OF ambitious and
dan1ineering states? Nor is it matter of
slcss surprise, tosee thistreasure applied to
strengthen our enemies, expended on ship
of people, who have recently shown
their total disregardof the laws of nations
and the principles Of Justice, by wantonly
stripping us of millions and refusing
tsredress. Almost thirty three thousand
dollars were cxpendeato repair the Ber-
ceau, French vessel, whose original
! cost is stated at little more than thirteen
thousand. olaw, treaty, or national com.
|. pact imposed any obligation for such sim
gular and unprecedented conduct.
TO prove the expenditure of money on
the Berceau by ordersof the executive, and
the manner in which she was repaired, we
shall give extracts OF letter of Samuel
Brown, Navy Agent, 70 the Secretary of
the Navy, dated Boston, October 81,
fso1.'
Sui now enclose an account ofthc re-
pairs made en-, and the supplies furnished
TO the Preach national corvette, lie Ber-
ceau, agrecahly to your Instructions of the
Sd April last, amounting to 32,ss9 dolls.
81 cents.
"You directed 10 be stated the pre-.
else condition lie Bcreeau was in rs to her
equipment of every kind on the delivery
|so the officers, appointed on the.part Of the
French Republic, toreeeive her. On the
$50 of June she was formally delivered up
but as many of the supplies were neces-
.arily made after that time,1 conceive the
object intended would not be embraced by
stating her condition at that period. |
think there is no better way Of ascertain
ing repairs and supplies, she received at
public expence, and the-condtion OF her e.
Equipment a, the termination of thesu2plies
than hyreference TO the account, which I
hope you will think to be sufficiently expla.
natory. But itmaysnos be amiss to make
some general observations On the subject. |
shall therefore say shattde best shibvyights,
6lacAsmiths, cG4kers, joine,s, ,nastmakers,
viggers, and other ,1vsrkmen en- this place
zyere emb!oged GA the repairs that their
zpoyk syas 1UeN executed, and the materials
furnished. tor the purpose, zoere effhe best
kind. That wherever the copper on her
bottom appeared tohave received an iuju-
~ it was repaired with new. II these re-
sheets there cannot be a d9u6t otrhsy being
placed tn better condition than she was IN
at the period Immediately anterior TO tse &C.
ton w.thths Boston. Her masts, bowsprs
spars, tops aad caps were all new, and
made in the. best and most substantial
manner. Her shrouds, stays and cordage
were all new, and of the best quality, being
made of the finest yarns, excepting about
four tons of the latter. She was furnished
with a new cable of eighteen inches, one
hundred and twenty fathoms in length, and
amply supplied with spare cordsge: In
addition to upwards of thirty sails, that
were saved from the wreck, which were
put in good order, she was furnished with
complete new Sc. Of sails, made >of the
best duck. Her condition, as to Ter masts,
spare, sd,auGs, stays ana sails, svas doubtless
rsaaf mach better BY the repairs, thar at thu
pericd refsrredto obape.
Her sapplyof blocks and block work
was ample. She was furnished with new
barge, and her other boats were al repaired
< she was abundaatly supplied with water
casks.
:. Her cabin was sufficiently furnished
With tables, desks, chairs, crockery ware
and other ftiraituFe. In these respects
49, : Z - Z