Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-10-14
From the .Ndfionai. .Q.ltocate.
TIE SaVK-Mo. i.

II IS now OBVIOUS, that great majority of thC
people Of the United States is decidedly in f:.voy
of a respectable navy. Whatever differences q
opinion may have existed upon this subject prioI
20 the late war, certain it is, that the events o
that war have fixed the national sentiment am
feeling. Our gallant tars, have by their deed.
acquired distinguished eputation--adyanccd the
character ofour arTns--humbled the lofty prcten
sions OF the " mistress Of TIE ocean"--and con
vinced the great body of the people, that navy
isessential to the most precious interests Of the
nation--that where there is an equality OF force
whether ship to ship, or squadron TO squadron
America has nothing to fear from am nation IN,
tier Heaven.
It is useful, occasionally to review nast scene
they afford valuable lessons, which wise and
virtuous people will not disregard. What was
our naval condition. and what was that of t,rea,
Britain, at the commencement of the late war
We had SIX or eight frigates, and ten or twelve
snialler vessels-Great britain boosted her thou.
aand ships, many rating Ito guns, go, 80, "a, and
81 guns, be3ides great number of races and
heavy figates. The odds against Ms were fright.
fol! Even Americans might, without dishonour
have declined the contest, What other nation
would have dared, under such perllous circ,im-
stances, 20 encounter the foe 7 Destruction an
peared inevitable Fifty % one against us 80
Scarce, however, had intelligence of the declara-
ton Of war reached Nrw-york when the gallant
RODGERS, with his little squadron, (if squadron
il may be called) weighed anchor and put to sea,
in the face of the enemy-dashed into the very
chops of his channcl--drew from our coast the
naughty ioe--thereby opening the way for our
returning trade to,arrivc safely in port--chascd
and crippled, in combat, frigate of equal force
which escaped only by throwing overheard her
provisions and other heavy articles--seriousy
annoyed his com.nerce-and, after crize of
several months, returned to our ports in triumph,
without having sustained the smallest loss
This oriize was so bold, SO daring so full of pc
I'll, that even Americans hesitated to approve the
adventurous spirit which Induced it ; but thev
were in their apprehensons of losing the whole
squadron consoled by the reflection, that this spi,
rift was not unaccompanied by solid judgmen. &
wise procauton.
In succession we GEd the proud Dacres Weld
ing to our Hull, after an action which proved
that more could have been done, had more beer
required Our enemy believed the first news OF
this action 10 be a fabrication. Z" What what !
what says John Bull, AN American figate whip
one Of my frigates Impossible ~ The inteli
gence, however was soon confirmed and he was
doomed further to hear. that the Macedonian
had struck her colors to tie intrepid Decatur
that the accomplished cambridge in distant sea,
attacked and yanquished the Java, one of his best
appointed f'igates; and that Lawrence, Jones,
Burrows, Eddie, Warrington, & nanymore ofour
officers, had reaped laurels at bis expence. lie
endeavcrcd to find consolation in the belief, that
though tie Americans could fight single ships,
they were deficient in the skill and experience
necessary to the management ola sguacron.-
Here, too, he was doomed to experience the bit
terest modification On lake Erie the modest
PeIry--on Lake ChamPlain the equally modest
and equally brave Maodoneugh, gave him a les
son never TO be forgotten either BY him OF By us
Yes, my countryTnen Tehave in single combat.
and in squadron vanquishcd the foe; nay, more,
Two to one, rs our favorite Stewart has proved
Ard who was this foe Was he unused to war :
Was lie imskil!ed in combatl Was he unprepar-
ed Was hepusnanmous MOL For cent,l-
RES he has, with but little interruption, been cor
stantly al war-hs skill was considered as uBri-
vslled--he was in a state Of perfect preparation,
and be was renowned Cor experience and yalor
II over such foe we were Yictorious--if a
ganst such frightfil odds we en-: cred the lists
ifwiih half dozen fiigates ard few smaller
vessels, we have accomplished so much, what
Iaght we not have done with twelve ships of the
iHt, and thirty frigates.
AsIERICA2JUS.