The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-08-04
IRON TEE ru.lrc AprE.rnrs.
of'se comparative p'7rerI ard sxseres Of Pip, Of rcay
sSn-Goai5 and Qualifications.

g1a-eoaJ ana J"fysSaf'sH'.
The natural defence by is common to ali
nations; but artificial defence auxiliary hui
man frength muR be adapted to the local condition
ard circumstances of a country. What may be iuit-
able one country, in Gate of circumstances,
may not be 70 in another.
The United States have long line Of coaa of more
than two thoufand miles, every part of With
9ures defence, becaufe every part is appEoachable
by water.
The right principle for the United States to 60
upon as a water defence for the eoaa is that OF COM
bning the greateR practical power with the leaf
poible bulk that the whole quantity of power may
be better d(lributed through the ieveral parts of
fuch an ex,en!ive eoah.
The power of a ihip of war is altogether in the
number and ze OF the guns fhe earries fer the hip
of itielf has no power Ships canno, llruggle with
each other like animals; and befides this, halfher
guFs are on de the fhip and half the other, and
as he uie only the guns one de at time, her
real power is only equal half her number OF guns
A. feventy-four uie only thirty feven guns. She
Lnult tack about bring the other half into action,
and while fe is doing this ihe is deiencelefs and ex-
poied.
As this is the cafe with lhips OF war; queaion
naturally aries therefrom, which is, whether even-
ty-four guns, or any other nu~ber, cannot be more
effeauay employed, and that with much lels ex-
pence, than by putting them all into one thp OF iuch
enormous bulk that it cannot approach fhore either
to defend it attack it and though the fhip
change its place, the whole number of guns be
only in one place at time and only half that num-
Der can be ued time.
This is true hatement OF the cafe between fhips
OF war and gun boats for the defence OF coa and of
towns fituated near COAT. But the cafe often is,
that men are led away by the GREATNESS of an
idea and not by the BUSINESS OF it. This is always
the cafe with thoe who advocates for naves and
large ihps.
a h., ha,v n; ,,oE
one hundred guns can carry, is enc gDnjep Of t6e
line and feventy four of them, which would coft
much lefs than IA gun hiP would co., would be able
to blow IA gun lhip out Of the water. They have,
in the ufe of their boats, double the power of the
aip, that is they have the ule of their whole
Der OF IA to ST. g
Having thus hated the general outlines of the fub-
jea, come TO particulars.
That might have correct data to go upon with
refpea to the expence Of ihps ard guu-boats wrote
to the head of one Of the departments at WaGng-
ton FOR Information on that fubea.
The following is the anfwer received.
1" Calculating the colt of "a or 100 gan Np
from the aanal colt of the hip United States of "A
!" guns, built Philadelphia, between the years
" 1895 and 1898, which amounted to 100000 dol
&c lars, it may be prelumed that IA gun ihip would
" colt 100000 dollars and 100 gun nip 100000
dollars.
Gun-boat. calculated merely for the defence Of
" harbors and rivers will, on average, con about
|" 1000 dollars each when fit to receive the and
"provions."
On the data here given proceed to fate com,
parative calculations reipe6ting ips and gunboat,
The fhip United States, cot 500 900 dollars
Gun boats coz 1000 dollars each, confequentlv the
100000 dollars expended on the fhp for the pur-
pole of getting the pfe OF Al guns, and thefe not
heavy metal, would have built iVenty fVe gun-boa.
each carrying cannon of the fame weight of metal
that lhip of an hundred guns carry. The DIFF
ference therefore is that the gunboats give the ufe
of 81 guns heavy metal, more than can be obtained
by the ihip and the expences in both cafes equal
A "A gun fhip coi 100000 dollars. This fame
money will build l25 gun boats. The gain by gun
boats is the uie of 81 guns than be obtain
cd by expanding the money ilhip of "A guns.
The con of an 100 gun hiP is 100000 dollars
This money will build IT'S gun-b The gain,
therefore, by the boats is the ufe of Is guns more
than by the ihp.
Though had general imprsffon ever fince had
knowledge of gun-boats, that any fun of money
would go farther in building gun-boats than in build
ing ihips of war; and that gunboats were preferable
to ihP for home defence did not fuppofe the diff
ference was 70 great the calculations above given
prove them to be, for it is almof double in favonr
of gun-boats. 1t is as i75 to 100 The caufe of
this difference is eafly explained.
The faa is, that all that part Of the exPerce in
building flip from The deck upward, including matt,
yards fails and rigging is aved by building gunboats
which are moved by oars, light fail occaion-
ally.
The difference af. in point ofrepairs between
fhips Of war and gun boats is only great but is
greater in proportion than in their firf cof. The
repairs Of fhPs of is annually from IL to l-l9
of their firA onh. The annual expence Of the re-
pairs of h.p that coli 100000 dollars will he a.
boTe 81 900 dolIars; the greateR part of this ex-
pence in her fails and rigging, which gun-boats are
free from.
The difference ALTO in point of duration is great
G,in boats, when in ufe, be put under helter
and i,referved from the weather, but lhps cannot
or the boats Can be funk in the or the mud
This is. the way the Of cider mills for grinding
az les :Te preferved. Were they to be expofed to
tht dry and hot air after coming wet from the mill
they would crack and fPt and be good for nothing
u ut timber under will toRtnue found ieveral
blndred y,'ars provided there be worms.
Another sivantage in favor of gun-boats is the
expedition VIZ which great number Of them can
be built az chee. An hundred may he built as lonn
one, If there aie hands enough to fet about them
separately. They do not require the preparations
for building them I'll " ihPs require, nor deep water
to launch them in. They can be built on the ihore
weeds or forehs and tie part. brought feparatey
Down aud put together the fhorc. But fhips
take UP long time building. The fbiP United
States tool, up whole years 90 and 81 and part
OF the years 'o5 and 49, and all this fer the purpoe
81 getting the u(e Of "a guns and thOfe not heavy
metal. This fooIh affair was not in the Gays of the
prelent administration.
Ships and gun-boafs for different fervces--
Ships for difar; expeditions gun.hoats for home
defence. The one for the ocean the other for ae
hore,