Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-01-16
[coxTIsuED.l

sion bar ss his colleague had stated sna.
the people of The northsru ssases wete IA
vorsblr 20 this mode of defence. he shoold
say sew words on the squesuon. ne
would state what was the opinion OF Amr-ll
ricau merchants aud seameu who were &c
quainted with shis and othernassl afms
mems. nor oplr in b sstoD, but 81 New
York and Phaadeiphis He had endeas Or
ed 10 obsaio correct Information Gu the
sutiect from the proper sources; and ne,
hxd not vet seeu the man of experience IN
naval affairs, who shoaghs that these should
constitute principal part OF defence, OF
who expressed higher opinion OF .hesr.
efficacy, than thatthe might be useful IN
some places. The mode 10 which they
we're 10 be erected TOO, 10 grea' nnsberss
and 10 so great au expence As 20 exciade
other means Of defence. that excited ih-
apprehension. of those opposed 10 shsn.
Mr. @ said, he could stale from as high
authority a. that quoted by his coHrsgpe,
char seamen abhorfed aod contemaed these
boats; .ha. j, would 40. be passible 10 ~.
York 10 man 60 gnn bnass, and ,ha,ssanen
would ,aiher go aud 6ght wish oaaske IN
merchaoss ships than serve 10 gso boats.
And ~hyi Because there VAS not rooa,
in them for sesmen TO sis upright; they
were obliged TO sit like dags snppr their
hannches. He did not know this 5y actu
al experiment. but be had i: from au,ho.
sisy on which he coald RELY, that sraanen
could 40, be procured 20 man ihese beass.
Ii had been said that they might e.: mill.
tia 70 go 90 board: Mr.sQ. said, i sea.
men would re, serve, surely milsss would
not ssand il. Ancthcs reason agaiDsi ihe
use Of gon boats wss, thasthe msa con,
fned 90 the Darrow decks were exposed so,
much to the FIRE of musque,ry; # ever
they came within Gansket shot OF their op,
ponent. .hey wsse exposed to great dan.
ger.
The way 20 make sesmeu look danger
10 the face, was 90 bring them 30 close
quarters With the eneny. not to soffef them
10 fht and run, fight ADD run 4gsla. Mr..
q. was surprised 10 hear his colleague
dwell with so much satisfaction on, he az.
gumenr that these boats could get into
shoal water and behind TIE pola,s at land.
He was afraid thi. nigh, be shoushs 90 be
the spirit of the northern people the soil
10 ~hirh Probes sprang, did NOS produce
men who would hide themselves whea
danger cane; they would meet the enemy
wheneser he should come; ,hey you'd
fight AZ close qoar.ess, and 1t he natioa
would not give them decks 1t their eva
op which TO fight. they soniashad way
to*6shs on those OF the ensmy.
The misfortune of this sys.eu,, 10 she
mind of FIR. @. waa this: that the mea
whose spirit would induce them 20 serve
their country, detessed these boats. Ii
men could consent 10 coop themselves IN
shsse csge. Ike fowls faneniug for the
knife, their blood was so milk white, 90
ihin, that they were moi worthy the honor.
able trus, Of defending theis country.
A great arguments in favor of .hsae
boats had been urged. thar they cousd at
tack atloug shos, aud with heavier metal
than frigates, At the sahne ume presenting
bus small mark 20 their oppnnens. Would
not the enemy. said Mr.. @ understssd
your machine as we'll as you dof If they
krow TIA. you have no,h,ng bot gun boats,
" II they no, bring sgainss you olher force
thar shipscf wsrs A gentle msnformerly
10 our navy. but lately from Jamaica, had
assured him thar every ship on that station
carried four boats capable of carving an
ls pound carronade each. Talk of fifteen
men 20 each boat! If shey came within
reach of snip, they would have $50 mus.
kess a. once opposed TO them, and il would
bes very unequal Contest; shey would be
obliged to keep respectable distance from
any ship. Ii had been said thar The navy
ofGreM Britain Was so powerful thar the
Unised Ssstes could never ereet navy
anl6cienllx nnxesf,,l r.. 800. .,.;,L =; e AZ.