Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-24

81 ~ a 't- -NAsNtt ittt WIS, dIO T0lC lS n
IS. l. it probable, thar the addition of I76
tons TO their d'wenSiCns Mil enable vessel
To carry 80 additional pieces of ordinance.
much more Eighty than those already in
useI THIS 20 him Appeared to- re im~oss:ble |
!. it he 'n,eiidcd t. have ships Of the higher ,
"9teS NJ honed they would rot Re cramrcd
IN their dir ensions--that to him was false |,
econ my. Give 10 them, said he, their full
tonnage, and you viii find your account in
81 dCing. Fomeriy, the British ships were
United IN their tolnagc-the French, by
extending the dimensions of their line OF!
battle ships, have carried the British from
their ancient usage-shaii' We remain sta
tionary and continue The exploded errors of
ether naval powers Certainly not adopt
tho advice Of Humphries /; do not remain be-
hind; take 4 bold lead; give bent to the
genius of your naval constructors and force
the people cf Europe to initiate you in ,he
dimensions, as they have already done in
regard to the beautiful forms of your ships.
Suppose then, that the timber originally
procured for the 74's shall only be adopted
ior those OF GO tons, it will be advantage
Gus to reduce 1t to dimensions proper for A
gun ships--by this reduction you will suffer
a loss Of Is, say for the two frames 10
Thousand dollars, this he considered as tri-
ding compared with the consequences which
must fo,ltw an iii founded prece dent. Last
year it will he recolieCteG, It was Admitted
this timber might be used for frigatcs.
do not &c ub,, Mr.. chairman, continued
Dir. 5. but that have already iaLigued the
mmittce with my dry calculations-it is
hoped they wiz indulge me with their at
tention t. few remarks concerning fsiea,es.
am DESTROYS to add respectable number
tn those already authorised, say from Il to
IS ct the first class; this will live you more
additional guns than the bill contemplates.
Your forty fours are superior to any of the
British frigstes; it you doubt this ask Cap
tains Dacies and Garden, they will not de-
ny 1t. When ,hs enemy is in search of your
AS, if he acts with his frigates, YOU NAV
be sure of being victorious--if for this pur-
pose he selects higher rate of ves els, he
viii incur great additional expense and
give you the chance Of ont sailing him-or
you viii. force him to change his present
system and add new class of vessels to
those which he has already adopted under
a stiH breeze, your frigates will run from
ships OF the line; i'll boisterous times, a Sc
venty-four may be forced to Close her lower
ports, then with your heavy frigates yon
might hazard comtat-the dvi ed form
in which this force will appear on ,he ocean,
will enable you to annoy the commerce of the
enemy; TO capture his frigases and carry
MS squ2dren from your coast and harbors.
AZ your SHIPS are concentrated in squsdrons
the enegy viii seek you with force far
superior; you must then combat under dis
advantages or cndoavUv to make your ports
ter safety, and there you will be blockaded.
by adding to the present number of 41's, YOU
give uniformity to your system, which ia the |
END VIII prove very economc2l-tiic work |
~lii Cc sooner and much better executed
every surplus OF materials will answer e. !
G'aliy well Tor any one of the ships--in case !
a vessel shall be injured BY the tempest or |
nc disabifo in action, sue will be much soon |!
Er ntted Tor service, as you will be prrpsr
ed with surplus OF masts, spars, and other |
eqWpments-undcr such regulations YOU |
need not multiply expense by keeping nu- |
merc1s crew i'll polt. idle for = eeke until a !,
mast can ts procured ; by adding the num- |
Der proposed you viii have a respectable |
class OF efficient slips. S.ich ships, sir, will |
enable you 20 confirm and pcipctuate TIE |
splendid victories CT Hull, Jones and Deca-
tur--thcse heroes have already. in five |
months s.Iter che declaration of war, destruy-
ed tie charm OF British invincbility on the |
ocean-tneir deeds surpass any which the i
British naval annals can boast they have
humbied British pride. These actions will
have great effect on the powers of Europe
your Rag will hereafter be respected a.
friend. as an enemy it will be fcared-be-
iieve me, sir Great Britain has lost more in
glory than mad you conquered the Canadas.
Mr.. Brousham has been taught that your
" assembled navieS" can Go more than "lay
siege 20 an Engieh stOQh e war;
Mr.. bssset sad he was placed, thinking
as ne CAD, IA an auAward situation by the
motion Of the gentleman from North Carroll
Ia, for by voting for it, he should unares
ably gain largely, and ye, under circumstan-
ces he was Obliged to vote against it. He
was not prepared now TO enter into any
lengthy argument on this subject but it an
peared to him that the speech of his friend
from Fennsy lvania was favorable to the
p; inciple OF the bill. IA rs much as he had
passed 1t over and attacked the details of
the subject. On this head MIR. B. said he
must Confess he was not able to present his
information 20 ths committee In as authori-
:''tive way az he could wish but, it world
he recoliected that rs long ago as last year,
Tie Secretary OF the Navy had stated that |
considerable portion Of the timber neces-
si.y Tor seventy fours was at this tine pro-
. .ded and deposited in the Navy Yards -
ne committee OF which Mr. 3. is chair.
NAM we're not, he said, authorised 60 cav ;
tDst tbe whole Of the frames for four seven
|, -fuuiS are in readiness. He believed the
TACT, to be otherwise; bur more than two
Thirds Oh these frames, the important part
OF vessei OF war, were ready, and were :
distributed at four different yards i'm read. 1
ness for use. MIR. u. said he Agreed with
the gentleman irom Pennsylvania, that a {
larger tonnage would be preferable for 74's !
thsn 1000 tons and he was perfectly salts
he'd larger would be adopted, and that :
the tonnage OF seventy four, to carry SO {
guns, would he from II to 1900 tons. As
Itr as he could learn from naval men, Mr.. {