Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-05-10

,,,.1 ;,;f,be administration and its prime o.
ronsdentil supporters and will aid US in &C. J.
counting for their conduct IN relation to 70.
r,iya powers, Ia France in particular.
As Mr.. Eppcs (Mr. Jefiersons son,,ln-iaw)
81 the last session Of Congress, SAID OF tie
link of the United States, that Its iste Was to
b. decided on party principles: SO MS col.
league spoke of our government hscit -,
Tint sit was a government OF party: that
$. rhtv were obliged to have recourse to such
g measures, as, 4pould enable them 10 rrtaia
6 ths;r hlaees: that they never would gotto
{" war for the rights Of tho ocean; commerce
6 never would be protected by force; not
6 oven ;ftherc was blockading fleet at the
{; youth ,ei eac, of our larbors: And 60.
:. v.,,,nent THE party new In power ami ;x!.
n,n;stcrins the government never would
{. r;ek = war until our resources were suiI,ct-
g -. 70 dcfrav the expenses a:itaoa: ersasizg
{. 5,,,he,.s 10 re .4.rr.them nn7tohHiar."
Tp;s ayowai was rI,:K;c to another member
- Cor.,rcss, who at my request, while the
declaration was flesh in mis- memory, commit.
al !, 70 writing. / have not now room for
c,.,,mrnts upon il. Iii il docs not speak lan.
euar. TOO plain to require any.
, TIMOTHY PICKERING.
aay 2, 49,,
RI the senate, on a question for putting
some ofthG frigates in commission for service,
General Smith advocated the measure, parity
on this pround,'" That seancn f'oam MT "a.
Est to sire in tie san-boats: but when CT.
listed for the frig tcs. they might be ;re;ss-
f,red fran them 10 hegnm-00ufs :" On this
kidnapping flea ses-fariiig men will he the
best commentators.
There is one fact connected with the gun
boat business which is little known; and as it
was intended to form d part ct that SYSTEM Of
defence, it NAV not be undressing.
There is, near the entrance OF the Chcsa-
ne,ke- B,.y. a space of some miles Ill extent
c.l,ed the Middle Ground, where the water
is of su!fic ent depth for sun-boats, but .co
shallow for ships Of war. MIR. JeifcrsoA's
procct WAS, to form, ons SONIC part of this
sho.l. AN .4svlum for his tavorite "species Ct
naval armament" This WAS ,obe accomplish
cd By encomp. ssing apart ct tire shoal vita
mounds of rocks, to DC transported & thrown
in until their ridges should rise fairly above
wtcr. On these ridges e donot know whe-
Their in the form Of square Cir a circle wcre
to be raised walls Of inasonrTT, I'thFk twe'v;
feet high, and a.. a thickness q surposc) SUI
fcient to resist the ha:sernS ct Cannon, rs
well as of the sea. 81 al opening left IN one
the sides, the gun-boats were TO ei.tsr. and
this opening was to be Guarded b. SO running
the two parts of this side, that they might
overlap, leaving space between for the gun.
boats to pass in and DOT. WIKI this most in
eenious project Mr.. Jefferson was so delight
= ofn
ton the tine of its execution. he exclaimed
with tran ,pcrt--. Then let British ship
shew her nose If She dare.!
It may occur to some 10 ask. why this Wet
Dock (as well as the Dry Doek) WIS notrco.
nately-..Mr. Jefferson happened to meet vita
/. man Of common sense and experiences =.
practical philosopher..-to whom the scheme
was communicated. This gentleman, in tie
t.rst pl.ce, eDdeuyorvd (though in vsin)to
cow &c Mr.. Jefferson that the proposed
!cuGd ton Of his wall would not resist the
rolling Of the Atlantic waves. But when he
told him that the SIND of the Middle Ground
occasionally shifted; and that if his mounds
OF rocks resisted TIE force of the sea, they
would Cause an island to be formed; and that
the entrance into his dock (or pound) would
be chokcd up-alr. Js!terson gave way Su
tie pro ect was abandoned.
The FIRST intimatian Of this project IVES si''
en- to me by friend Of MIR. Jefferson, who
heard him utter fhx stout defiance TO the fT'
tisd nevy; ard the details Of it by a geh;leman
with whom Mr.. jefferson conferred on tie
subject and who made the objections above
stated.
-e,
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