American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-11-19
Mn. COBBETT'S LETTER TO Mn. JAMES.
(COnTlNuED0
(coNI'lNuED.)


OF beginning to w,ite history OF English ma. al
fights AS observed before, see itom
the preface to your book that it is going to contain
string of miserable apologies. Your whole DO, k
contains 528 pages Of your own writing, leo pages
OF which are occupied with preparing the reader
for the defeats which are to follow. What en-
ploy hundred pages in order TO prepare The
der for defeats OF English ships! hundred pages,
in order shew that the English shis could not he
expected TO be match tor tie American ships
The sight Of these hundred pages is quie enough
for any moderate man. However, my readers shall
have lllle specimen oil your preparatory motions.
They SHALL see your ngenious string Of reasons
why the American lrgae CosslIl uTIoN GUght
to beat and capture the GuERRIERE!
Wha would, 81 aoy former time have been said
OF such aitemptg An attempt TO prove that an
English ship ought to be beaten by an American
IiIigsle. However, let US FIRST quote the passage,
land remark upon ii afterwards. II is the beginning
lol Chaptef You pl, ad as il it wete Tor your life.
Had you heen the Captain Of the GUERRIERE
yourself you could not have pleaded with more
zeal. am the reader will say that this ex-
tract itself ought 10 have saved your back from the
wrath oil Sir John Phimore.
"Fom the battle of TRAFALGAR to the peace
of Is, you begin far off, Indeed three -iourths
ol the British navy, at sea- were constantly employ
ed in blockadng The fleets of their enemies Of
the remainder, such escaped The dull business of
conveying, cIuised about; but the only hostile ships
that, in general crossed their tracks, were disguised
ntutrals from whom no had knocks could be ex-
pec,ed Once year OF 20, the capture oil a French
iriyatt by British gave momentary flip 10
he vice.
"A succ ession oil pid cruises necessarily be-
ga, among both officers aud men, hapis Of inat'en-
lion Ihe situation ct gunner On boaid our ships
became almost s,necule. 4t"eniy years war, OF
II self, was suicie, We out he strength OF our
seamen; but lsSi'y oi discipline in all ibr esseu-
t,as Of msn-o! wars man, produced much
mo sensible elect.
" Instead OF the sturdy occupation OF hahdling
the ships guns, now seldom used but ON salutes,
the men were taught polish the tra.ersing bars,
lelevaing -screws copper on the bits &c by way OF
ornament to the qua,trr deck, Such Of the crew
as escaped this mental Office, ttrom be unnecessary
wear il occasions, lately loibidden by an order from
The Board OF Admlrally) were set TO Keeling and
unreefing the topsails, against time, preparatory 10
Ia match with any other OF His Nlajesty's ships that
might happen 10 fall il company.
Many we're the nonle exceptions 10 this, and
many were the commanders who. despising what
was either 6ncal or useless, and still hoping 10 sig
naiize themselves by some gallant exploit spared
no pains, consistent with their limited means, and
the restraints oil the service, to have their SHIPS, az
all times, as enoi-war should be, IN bo,ing trim.
"As Mapolcon extended his sway the Eu-
ropean continent, the British navy, that perpetual
blight upon hi. hopes. required TO be eTtended also.
British onk and British seamen,--atihe scarce, con.
tract ships were hastily built up with s!t 0ood and
li2ht frames and then manned With an impressed
creiv, chiefly of raw hands and small boys sent
forth assert the rights and maintain the ehaTac-
tier, o Brlons upon the ocean. In June, 1912, when
The war with America commenced, the BRUSH ma
Wy consisted OF 746 ships in commission Had
these have been cea ed OF all the Foreigners and an
cbtctire hands, how many ships would the remain
der have properly manned!
/ g To The long dul alton of war, and the rapid in
crease OF The navy may be added third cause OF
the scarcdy OF Sedmen; the enormous Inrease OF
the army. In December, 1879, we had il regulars
alone, 229 l49 men. How many rigates could
| have been manned, end well manned, too, by
Idtaughts from the light Dragons, and the light in
fantry regiments Norris there question: so ln-
wing were the bounlles-that prime SeameR have
enlisted IN both.
! 1.-THE crews OF our ships experienced fourth
reduction in strength, by The establishment, about
six years ago, o. the battalion marines; corps en-
buded Tor the purpose OF aching on shore In conunc-
tor with the seameD and marines OF the ships. The
battalion marines, about 1000 in number, consisted
lof the pick Of the royal marines which, accordingly
lbecame reduced 10 weak, understood men, and very
young recruits Marines ought TO be among The
sloutest men in the ship because, until engaged IN
close action their station is at the guns where great
physical strength is required. Except on few oc-
casions in Canada, and the Chesapeake the battalion
marines, al hough as fine body OF men as any IN
1.-The Two services, have remained comparatively idle.
"The canker- oor,n, that in the shape Of neglect,
had so long been preying upon the ritats q the
, British nary could not exist among the teW ships
composing the nary Of The United States. Ameri-
cas- haifa dozen trigates claimed the whole OF her
:, attention. These she had constructed upon the
most Improved principles, both for sailing and Tor
,rar. Considering that the ramparts OF battery
should have, Tor one object the shelter OF the men
stationed at it, she had built up the sides of her