Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-06-14


lie in port for one year, without giving her
any kind Of repair, she will probably be
found at the expiration Of that year, wholly
unworthy of being repaired.
With respect to those kept in service,
they also will decay, if not occasionally re-
paired: tho it is observed by professional
men, that vessels in service, especially in
salt water, are less subject to decay than
they arelying in port, and universal expert
ence does, I.believe, sanctionthis idea.
In reply to your query respecting the
gun boat system, as relating.to the "interest
of the nation and the navy department.,
and as to the propriety OF continuing that
system or the abandoning of it by a sale OF
the boats, am to observe that much must
depend on the species of policy which in
the event Of war may be adopted. kfTthat
event should shortly occur, and it is deter
mined that plan,of operations merely de-
fensive shall be pursued, there can be no
doubt that gun boats will aid materially, #
properly stationed but if, on the contrary,
our maine should be directed against TO
reign trade, and to the conveying and pro-
lection of our own, asystem OF well armed
fast sailing frigates, and smaller crulzers,
would, on every principle, be preferable IN
point of effect; and comparatively, rated
per gun and numbered men to- be employ
ed, would be much less costly. II must
also be observed that it is only on board OF
vessels suited for sea service, that good
seamen are to be formed, and that those
calculated merely for ports afford no oppor-
Itunity for Improvement IN naval SCIENCE -
AS to the expediency of selling or retaining
the Gun boats, reference to the preceding
exhibits afford some information but beg
leave to remark that nothing short OF
knowledge of the policy which events may
induce could enable me to give decided
opinion on this point.
+" The difference Of the expence oSkeep-
ing one or more irigates on our own coast,
and sending them to the Mediterranean"
would in my opinion be inconslderable.-
On our own coast, they will, especially in
the winter and spring months, be subject to
numerous accidents from causes UNIVERSAL
w known, and not existing, it IS believed,
in an equal degree in any other part OF the
world, such as frequent and sudden heavy
squalls of wind, numerous shoals, thick
fogs, and the irregularity Of the motion OF
the gulph stream, which in misty weather
renders the approach to our coast peculiar
" hazardous. For our vessels stationed
in the Mediterr anean, we should be sub
iected to the expence oftransporting certain
articles of provisions and naval stores, not
to be obtained in that sea; but this is be-
lieve, the only additional expense to which
they would be subjected, and this expense
may be more than counte, balanced by the
accidents to which our vessels would be
subject on our own coast, and the compa-
rative cheapness of certain supplies which
can be obtained in the Mediterranean ports,
and am persuaded that if Congress would
authorize the building of a suitable vessel
for the transportation Of provisions from
this country to the Mediterranean for the
use Of anv of our vessels that might Be sta
toned in that sea, the expense of maintain
mo them there would be less than the ex-
pense of maintaining themon our own
coast.
AS you have not required my opinion on
the expediency of sending some OF our iri-
gates to the Mediterranean, | will only
venture to suggest for consideration, that
we have in that sea, valuable trade at
stake, subject to the depredations of law
less people, whose dispositions might be
eifectually restrained by the presence of a
few vessels OF respectable force; and that
I consider professional knowledge, on the
part of our officers, which can best be &C
CURED abroad, as of high national import
ance.