Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-07-04
III i-2 Gents Sine4e.l
IN port, and universal experience, does
! believe, sanction this idea.

tCicFt, sanction TINS IDEA.
In reply to your query respecting the
gun boar system, as relating 10 the '.;n-
terest OF tne nation and of the navy
| department." and as 10 the propyiety
or continuing that system or The aban-
idoning of it by "a sale Of the boats,
an to observe, that much must de-
pend on the species Of policy which in
the event OF war may be adopted. If
that event should shortly occur, and it
is determined that "a plan of operations
merely defensive shall be pursued,
there can be no doubt thai gun boats
viii aid materially, if properly station
ed, but it on the contrary, our marine
should be directed against foreign
tr de, and to the conveying and pro-
lection of our own, a system OF we'll
armed and fast sailing frigates, and
smaller crulzers, would, on every
principle, be preferable in point of eff
feet and comparatively, rated per gun
and number CT men to be employed.
would be much less costly.-It must
also be observed that it is only on
board OF vessels suited for sea service,
that good seamen are 10 be formed,
and that those calculated merely for
ports, afford no opportunity for i'm
provement in naval science. As to the
e1Pediency ofsel!ing or retaining OF the
,..an boats, reference to the preceding
exhibits, affords some information
but beg leave to remark, that no.
thing shortof knowledge of the policy
which events may induce, could ena-
bic me to give a decided opinion on
this point.
:" The difference of the expense of
keeping one or more frigates on our
own coast, and sending them to the
Mediterranean" would in nv opinion
De considerable. On our own coast,
they viii, especially in the winter and
spring mouths, be subiect TO numer-
Gus accidents from causes universally
known, and not existing, ii is believed,
in An equal degree in any other part
of the world, such as frequen. and
sudden heavy squalls of wind, nu-
merous shoals, thick fogs, and the
irrSgulsrity Of the motions of the
gulPh stream, which in misty wea.
they renders the approach to our coast
peculiarly hazardous. For our vessels
stationed in the Mediterranean, we
should be subjected 10 the expense of
Transporting certain articles of proyis.
ions and naval stores, not TO De obtain
led in that sea; but this is, | believe,
the only additional expense 20 which
they would DC subjected, and this ex-
Pensc may be more than counterbat-
anced by the accidents to which our
vessels would be subject on our own
coast, and the comparative cheapness
OF certain supplies which can be Oh.
tanned in the Mediterranean ports
and | am persuaded that if congress
would authorize The building Of SUIT
able vessel for the transportation Of
provisions from this country to the
Mediterranea an for the use OF our ves-
sells which might be stationed in that
sea, the expense of maintaining them
there would be less than the expense
of maintaining them on our own coast.
| AS you have required my opinion
on the expedlencv of sending some OF
our irigates to the Mediterranean, L
I will only venture to suggest for consi-
Iteration, that we have in that sea
a valuable trade at stake, subject
to the depredations of Iawlsss peo-
IPle, whose dispositions might be eff.
tectually restrained by the presence
lof few vessels Of respectable force (:
aud that | consider professional kno =
ledge, on the part of our officers, which
can best be acquired abroad, as of
high national importance.
! With respect to the expediency Of
modifying the laws in relation to the
navy department, it appears to me thas
some alterations are necessary.
II By the act authorising the employ.
ment of an additional naval force,
/ lPassed at the last session Of congress,
, az appears that the executive is res
treted from sending our vessels C.
. Equipped under that act, beyond our
, coast.--If it shall now be deemed ex-
I lpsdient TO ssad any Of them 20 the