Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-06-09

teu oer'lce Jolfiial lof Apfil, IN re-
view ofCapt. Moorsom's Letters from
Nova Scotia" bestows the following
compliments on the American Navy:
1t is IA common, though a most absurd
practice, to institute comparisons between
the Nary ofthc United States and that of
Great Britain ! AS well might we COM
pare gun-boat to the Caledonia, or the
fleet on the Serpentine to Nelson's at
Trafalgar. A British fleet of dozen
sail of the line, with due compliment of
irigates and light vessels, would sweep
every American craft carrying gun off
the seas, and batter every accessible
port in the Union. A squadron Of three
or four heavy frigates, with perhaps ship
Of the line, is the largest combination of
force they can possibly display, in any
one quarter, for years to come, and if the
unwieldy and ill-assorted Confederation
tumblcs to pieces, as it probably will, by
the collision of discordant elements with
in itself, the day may be indefinitely re-
tarded when the stars at the mast head
shall proclaim an American fleet Of men
Ofwar. The efforts ofthis country should
be directed to the equipment of single
vessels of class and strength to cope
with the superior and insidious dimensions
and weight of metal of the vessels which
the Americans are pleased to rate as frig-
ates, but which, in fact, are scarcely
matched by our Race scventy-fours.-
Give our captains the right sort of craft,
and the right sort of stuff to man them,
let Jonathan muster Yankee, instead of
British seamen las last wary for his crews,
and we will answer for the rest. Upon
this subject Capt Moorsom has the fol-
lowing remarks, which merit the deepest
attention:
awe have heard the American vessels
ofwar lately decricd-their supposed cx
cellence stated to be ideal. have not
served in the Navy but l learnt to
speak, to think, to act among naval Off
GERS; and felt pity within me as | ex-
amined every plank of the American
ships from Portsmouth to Washington,
and thought that my gallant brothers might
be sent, on nominal equality, to cope
with such fearful odds of material against
them. 1t is like the combat of the CUR
assier with a naked though not more
active dragoon. include not here the
consideration of number orwcight of met
al; in the latter indeed, l believe they
have themselves discovered that the due
proportion has been exceeded. 1t may
be true that ships of this description are
very unfit for the services required upon
our home station but it is to be hoped
that such of ours as may be destined for
the American shores will be more power
ful of their respective classes than any
we have hitherto launchcd for, although
our late Race frigates may be fully ad-
equate to the old "Constitution," or our
Canopus models to such as the "Frank-
ln," neither one nor the other could
fairly compete with the rivals that few
weeks would produce to each respective
ly, from under the building sheds that at
present contain them. Actions of fleets
in confined seas would produce very DIFF
fcrent results, were such large ships en-
ployed; history attests it; but the Allan
tic will be the theatre in the Western
hemisphere, and sguadrons are the most
numerous orders that are likely to be OPP
posed to each other for years to come.
'H wish well to brother Jonathan; |
admire him greatly upon many points,
owing to personal observation | dislike
the feelings of any hostile calculation Ell
ther on his part or rours-consderlng him
as near relation, and knowing that the
truest wisdom would induce him and his
elder brother to walk arm in arm through
life; but how easily will motives of fanci-
family union! | would therefore have mu-
tual respect insured by physical means,
which could not but contribute to render
that union more lasting"
This species of Boosting and brow
beating, says the n. Y. Journal of Com
mcrce, 1--WE alludc to the remarks of the
reviewer and not the lctter-writcr) is moth
ing new with Johnny; it was tried eilec
tually just before the last war, when in
fact the American Navy was considered
beneath contempt. But John had to
pay dearly for his whistle, for instead of
"swceping every American craft carry
ing gun, off the seas" he had his own
fleets swept from two of the Northern
Lakcs,-thrcc heavy Frigates, and vari-
Gus smaller men-of.war, besides 100
merchant vessels, either sunk, burnt or
captured. We think, after this single
disparity of results, compared with the
forces cmploycd,-this proud prc-cmi-
ncnce of the American Navy, after a