Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-05-10

val administration be justified in Cramnling
ships with more men than health would al
low. to be sent on long Voyage to-the coast
or America, to meet American ship. with
| an equal number of men, off q coast into
which they could put for the purpose of re-.
crnit'og whenever they choosef England
had an immense trade to protect in all
parts or the world; and it was absolutely
impossible, in the long voyages which En-.
shsn ships had to perform, TO relieve the
crews so rs to prevent their health from be-
ing Injured. The American bIockadiog
shlps, and our SO gun frigates, were both
called 5figafesS but they were not of the
same class OF ships; and Because they had
Two or three trisates or sloops of war of this
larger Size were we not to send 10 sea any
sap OF ihteFlor force s---or because the A
mericans had three or four such ships, were
we to build all ours of the same size
What did the noble earl mean bv saving.
that 1t was necessary for us to have vessels
OF similar description. He nord MY
admitted the principle of building our ships
OF war and cruizers according Ito those, of
tue enemy to which we were opposed and
TINS principle had been acted upon when
we built our frisates of the size of the
French but all that We could do to- oppose
these American ships was TO have 2 certain
number OF the sane size. The noble earl
complained that we had too many vessels of
smail description: but it was necessary
TO nave number OF these for the protection
! OF trade; and il the noble earl Commended
thst one large vessel was better than two
/ small ones tor this purpose, he was at Issue
| With aim, and appealed to any naval officer
TO deeide the question. There was not a
single convoy III which a demand was NOT
| made for small vessels: and Sir Alexander
Socnrane desired ten or twelve more gnn
| orlSS to De sent on to him, as beloe, th.
most useful class ot'vessels for Operations ON
! the American coast. Bus then the noble
carl SAID that these gun brigs were NOT f.
to meet the American s.oops of war. Wh,
| ever said they were? But they were usefn,
Tor the protection o. trade, inasmuch As n,
| american prlVateer would Come near the a,
| As 10 the construction OF our ships, the noh,e
carl could not select any clasa of ships wnich
mad been built for a century past (and ~.
| should nave the records of the AGmrr,It,, -,
assist hi1n,) ships built upon precisely the
same model, OF which sorae had not tnrned
out good, and some bad of which some had
not been praised and others abused. Whe
| ther IL WAS not possible to build ships g, nice
! iy as to make ali upon the same model t,,rr
| ont precisely alike, was more than he conIJ
pretend to say but there was one topic in
tie noble ears speech of real importance
namely, that in which he spoke of the de
gree OF skill and science with which British
ships we're constructed; and charged us
with deficiency i'll these qualities. And here
the noble viscount( MeiviIle) was unfortunate.
| ly compelledto agree with the noble earl s.
he did 1t safely. for 1t was stated in the 70
| ports upon their lordships's table. But
blame on this score was not inputabe TO the
| Board OF Admiralty of this day or the pre
ceeding day for the evil had existed for
century past. Neither did the blame at.
zach upon the department in which the in
competence was proved, for no men were
! more meritorious in their line than the off
GERS OF that department but it was found
that French, and even the Russian and Da
nish shipwrights, were more capable OF unit
| ing the theory of naval architecture with
the practice than the English ship bulid>
ers.
The noble lord here read an extract from
| report of the Committee for revising the civil
concerns of the navy, from which committee
| he SAID, more good effects had arisen to The
| public than. from any similar institution. n
| stated upon the subject OF the education
| OF our shIpwrlghts, that unless the svster,
! we're altered, not even a single good WORKING
man would be found in the yards that no
! blame attached on the officers Of those wards 4.
! that many were men of strong national nar,s
/ Know
| ledge OF the theory OF naval architecture. gov
| erBment was chargeable with the defect in not
| having provided them with the means of learn
ing IT. This report was presented to the Kinr
in 1906, and was laid before the Board of Adno;,.
| rally in 1907, and the recommendations oF :,
| were ordered 10 be carried into effect during
the administration OF noble friend behind him
The noble viscouut thea replied to some minu-
| ter points Of the earl's speech The motion
| which he must oppose was the last, namely.
for copy of the supposed orders to prohibit
our irigates from engaging with the large Anne
rican vessels and he opposed it, first, because
| the motion would not procure the noble earl
his desired information and 2dly because n
was not usual to call upon Commanders white
| war was going on, to give information OF wba,
| orders were secretly addressed TO them Ir
the noble earl chose to postpone the last mo.
ton till the intelligence Of the ratification ~
! peace with America should arrive, il might III.
Ininish the objections to it. The noble earl had
| stated generally, that orders had been given e.
| English trlgstes moi to engage an enemy's shin
| this was not so but the noble Viscount renlied
| that he had no hesitation, in saying, that n ar
/ English trigate were 20 court an act;on with
| French line Of battle ship, the Commando
! woula subject himself to be tried by a court
| m Ttial. A he Am,ro IN vessels in Gu stion wri,
! largely superior TO ours, aud because the Am.
| lns chose TO call them figafes was tito be
/ sad that our frigates were TO be consider.
ell match TO them 1.-The first kbot,l-, doc. =,