The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1819-01-04
AMERICAN NAVY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING. GIRO.


formidable opponent, with whom Great
Britain will find it difficult task TO con-
tend before half a century has passed a.
way, that shall feel obliged if you will
permit me, through the medium of your
paper, to state what that navy is a; the
present time, and what it will be in few
years. L have not been four months
from America AT Ncw-Tork a line of
battle ship and three frigates of forty
eight guns were lying; in Hampton
roads, three decker, flush fore and aft,
without poop (that useless appendagc,
merely to provide the Admiral a state
cabin) was at anchor, attended by two
sloops ofwar, mounting so guns each. |
visited the three decker, General Hash
ington, and althoughs
"Nurs'd on the wave and cradled in the
storm"
prepared to defend the nautical abilities of
my own country against all the world
was completely Ito use language familiar
to common ihinds) "knock'd on the head
with astonishmeht." The decorations of
an American line.of battle ships interior,
are far superior to ours, the expenccs be-
ing betrayed by the nation and as to mi
litary equipment, they outrival us with a
vengeance, Regular mechanics, bred to
the trade, are employed to take care of
the arms; every sword giitters in polish
ed steel, and its edge is so fine, that but
for its unwieldy size, you might shave
with it. The tomahawks for boarding.
(and which are the best instruments that
can be placed in the hands of British
Icu lnt -, pf tl,.aE
liar in their make. All the guns run up
on slides, which consider a great i'm
provement. In fact, MIR. Editor, q have
not time to enter into details) the Ameri-
can ships ofwar are fitted out in superior
style, and England, the mistress of the
wave, will be obliged to take lesson of
instruction from them.
The Americans have now afloat nine
ships the line, seventeen frigates, and
twelve slo0ps of war. All of those sIoops
OF war mount thirty-feur guns, and a
match for any Of our smaller class of fri
gates.
On the stocks America has eleven sail
OF the line, most of them will be launched
before another year has passed away, and
there are frigates laid down in every port
1t behoves us to watch with careful eve
on the increasing maratime power of A.
meriGa. That country has already defed
and defeated us in single combat she
will very soon encounter us with a whole
fleet
When Greek meets Greek, then comes the
tug of war.
Our noble lords presiding at the Admi-
rality board would do well to take a trip
To America but, alas |! if they saw, they
could not comprehend.
"Bray fool in mortar, he will never
be wise," said Solomon; he said true.
Can it be supposed that the M-q-s of
W-t-r, Lit. of Dragons, will be of any
use as lord of the admiralty His lord
ship, no doubt, is very eminent in his pro-
fession, as an Amateur actor at the Tot
:enham street theatre; and if his atten-
dance at the admiralty was as constant as
MS attendance on Miss F-e at Covent
Garden, he might do some servise.
The time of the honorable secretaries,
| apprehend, is too well employed; the
first being chief ballad-maker, and ballad
singer at Clubhouse and the second
kind of Pagoda- designer and embellish-
e. of Parks. Neither Of these gentlemen
dare to say, turn thought towards A
merica, 1t was not until all our frIeates
who ventured to engage the Yankees
were taken, that the Board and their Or
acie found ont American frigates were
larger than our own.
The encouragement given to seamen in
the American navy induces Englishmen
to enter it. There is no logging no
degrading man to the level of beast.
Human nature is estimated at its proper
value--the noble mind is cherished and
rewarded
My time, Mr.. Editor, is short but you
shall hear from me soon. A navy is RI
sing into existence that will soon dispute
with Britain the empire of the ocean.
Will raise my warning voice, and try to
arouse the frog from his croaking gutter,
and the idle labourer from his barrow
My country is dearer to me than exis-
tence: and cannot behold our apathy at
home, and the exertioDs Of our active bre-
thren across the Atlantic, without appre-
hension of the most fatal results.
am, Sir, truly and faithfully yours,
JOHN MILFORD.
Falcon-square.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING cHRo-
MOLE.