Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-06-15


Immediately lie. will further inform HIM,
that Sarah's Creek" on the Gloucester
shore, could be made perfectly safe re-
treat FOR lesser vessels. | have seen g
! merchant ship, and brig carried and re-
pared in it; It is entirely Ian locked
from every wind, save due South West
WIND. Then our smaller vessels may be
protected from the winds and waves, so
seriously alarming to the - friend of the
navy"
Tile friend of the navy" tells you, that
James river nearly divides the state into
equal sections, therefore the hayward
should be at Norfolk, to protect that which
is the weaithiest section. II he would con-
suit the map OF Virginia, accompanying The
Notes on Virginia" (and h..e he will
admit It to be good authority, ne will find,
that James river does noe divide the state
into two equal So tions. James river as laid
down, on that map, lies in the 37th degree of
North latitude; the boundary line bet~ cen
Virginia and North Carolina, in about So.
% little more than the half OF a geo.
graphical degree distant from each other.
From James river in Latitude 81, to the
boundary line, between the states OF Vir-
gina, and Maryland, that is, TO the centre
OF the Potomac river, at its mouth, which
is in SO North lati ude, we find the stance
full geographical degree IN luding near
ly dosoie the extent of country that lies
b.tween James river and North Carolina
it you pursue the meanders of the Potomac,
aud the northernmost boundary of this
state which runs as high as North lati-
tude 20, you will End the d strict Of ooun-
try lying between North Carolina. and
James river, does not embrace more than
third of the territory of the state and it
,c hpl g,
wealth and populatou.-1 presume, GEN
temen, that in the situation for scitc for
national Navy yard, whence great ma
tlonai oeuehs arc expected to flow, that
other objects, than the protection of COM
paratively small section of the country, or
the popuous towns, which are OIL its rivers
are TO be kept in view, and consulted Are
the commercial, and agricultural interests
OF Maryland. not to be consulted i--Is the
solid and permanent wealth of nearly
three fourths of the landed interest of this
state, and the whole of that of our sister
state, North ct us, to be sacrificed TO the
doubtful, and 1uctuating wealth of our
towns and do the interests of the towns,
on the tributary waters of the Chesapeake,
North OF James river, in this, as we'll as
the neighbouring state, whose only outlet,
the Chesapeake is, deserve no weight in
commerce Of James river alone furnish the
funds, which are to support this establish
ment Does the commerce of the upper
Chesapeake pass near Norfolk ?-what
protection will naval station there afford
1t what protection did it afford the last
war did not British privateers during the
war or the revolution, maraude upon this
commerce! Nay, did not, more recently.
during the war Of the French revolution.
French and British privateers infest the
waters CT the Chesapeake were not &C.
veral seen, as near to Norfolk. as Mock
Jack Bay" and this, since Gosport became
a Navy-yard II the CONNER C OF the
Chesapeake is to be protected, hy such IN
establishment, where can a scite for naval
rendezvous. and yard, so important in this
point of view, as Yor,S-town, be found ?
From its contisuty tc the " Chesapeake"
not vessel OF burthcn, that sais up, or
down the Bay, but IS seen from the
he glts OF 70 k; lis rich c mm-,ca ali IS
ses III view of this town the facility of ma
vgation which York river affords. would
MAKE It place, of resort, and sure pro
lection to its Commerce, when pressed and
pursued by an assailipg enemy. One WIND
will take vessel from her moorinrs off the
town to sea; the same wind which brings |
her into the capes, will waft her under the |
guns Oh the batteries at York within an |
hundred yards OF the batteries the heavi- |
esI ships OF commerce, nay of war can ride |
secure under the muzzie of our cannon |
from seven to ten fathom water is found |
within one hundred yards from the margin |
OF the river and # beacon, or telegraph. |
should be erected on the land forming the. |
Southern bank of the mouth of York river,
the intelligence of the arrival of an enemy |
IN the chesapeake. could be communca- |
ted to the metropolis ofthe state in short |
period and the tocsin of alarm in few |
hours, be sounded from York to Washing |
ton.
We are told that the Navy Yard should be !
near, for the protection OF the populous !
towns of Richmond, Petersburg, Norfolk |
Si.foK and Smithfcid."-If it is necessary |
that Navy Yard should be near populous |
town, then locate it at once at Richmond
certainly the most popu!ous, the most veal. |
thy, the most enterprsing town in this state |
this will be more Immediately furthering |
great object. This measure may be pro- |
ductive of other benefits it may stimulate |
the Richmond Dock Company" to extend |
their useful labors and patriotic exerlions
perhaps, exc te then to the opening of |
James River, from I" Rockets" to New |
Port News" for the egress and ingress of |
our large vessels Of war. This would GER
tainly, be task of little more labor than
excavatng the channel OF Elizabeth Riv-
er, (Which must be done, if u gun ships |
are intended for sea, after they |
are built at Gosport.) but which the Dock !
Company OF Richmond, possibly, would