The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-29
mo. 60.

fan to the srnrn,' Mfr c. t,,cn stated the
| c>!~nce e f";gH'es ,ic,l had been bli,t.
fTufn watch It III :2c1,cl n It the e>pencc Il
building one trg,lc "1.f Sly Is nrrch as chat
ct CA gnn-bo2ts. j. thcv Proposed to strike
"nt this number C gn-baats in oder n b,;li
| t"'gates, thev must adj sum of one million
| CT dellarS t. the appropriation.
Mr.. e.. was sorry this question hid been
presented to the House at this time aud in
tins f0rn: i gentlemen wished Skins 10 be
erected. they could bring Forward thei. ,vo-
n:siacEs hereafter, ard obtain t';c;r object.
He was sorry t. see this system embarrassed
~ any Other: he thought it was uncanncct-
ed with any other system, whether fort:fca-
items, navy, or whatever might be uronosed.
he thought it was very probable, if the u.
>. were involved in 4 war, tliat they must M
crease their naval establishment In sari,,r
this, lie did not mean that they should wade
INTO an ocean Of e&rence but lie thought q
lew frigates would be receNsary 20 protect
prizes, and to convoy merchant vessels 1t
was well known that the british navy. large
rs it was, could not protect her hole com!
rerce, many Of her merchant ships sailed
without Convoy; they sailed armed, howe
"er; and such ought to be the case, in this
c2untrT, il unfortunately it should be afflicted
with war. We are not now at war, said h(r.
<. we have received blow and claimed re-
paration, the decision on which is net vet
made; when war does ensue, it will be time
to arm orr merchant vessels. 1t was never
thcicss proper now to make Preparation for.
defence. 1t was well known that although
the secretary OF the navy had estimated a
certain number Tor each bort, these gun
boats could be removed from one part of the.
country to another when occasion required :
and the port OF Newport or any Other north
crn port which had not due proportion, at Z
Dforer time could receive aid from New
York. Hc did not conceive that the estimate
bcnT made MP III this manner prccu.ed 3
different arrangement.
One word With respect IN tic utility orthcec
boats, i'll addition t. whathe had before SAL!
on the subject. Tie gentleman seemed to e,
think that IA gr;n figate would be. Of NOR
use than G GIN boats. Did not the gentleman
know that g;n-b1rts carried 50 rorndcrs,
whilst Al gun frigate conld only carry -r',-
teens there was 4 vest difference between
the power Of Is and 50 pcunGers. CrrbG.ts
placed i'll convenient situations in our harl,a.s
might he extremely use.ai; and he mast a.
sCIc, that a dozen o. iitcon run-bolts could
drive q feet Out Of our haTbors. Gentlemen
~ nc countrv who were cutitled to great Gre
DIT had decided in favor Of Their utility II
had indeed Ecen fashionable 70 abuse gun
boats, hEr that wagEo reason they should now
be objected to. If gentlemen wished frisatcs,
let them come forward fairly With PROPOSE
ton at any other time than his moment, G:
he would meet it iairy The boats should
be built Gov, as d pre':ara.ion for events
perhaps war couid not be avoided, perhaps. i
coud. Let us, however, sid he, put CT
ports in a state of defence that we NAV be
prepared Cor all possible events
CDeb0e 10 be Continued }