Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-01-14


~ With the little .4rchipeiagO des !Saintes will
possess degree Of utility which the chamber
of deputies alone of all the people of France,
appears not even TO have understood.
4 The admirable roadstead, and fine national
harbor, Of Fort Royal. may be compared in
maritime point of view, with the most perfect
ports in Europe-and situated as it is, at the
entrance of the Caribbean sea, is perhaps
one Of those Of which all Europe envies ou.
possession.
The reputation which the brave admiral
Mackau has lately acquired in the West IN
dies. during his long residence as commander
of our station in those latitudes, will contri-
butte, we hope. not little to render easy TO
him the new service to which he has been
apponted, through the confidence reposed in
him by the minister ofthe marine; who is well
aware how greatly service such as this, will
require the efforts and good will ofthe inhabi-
tants Of our colonies. Monsieur de Mackau,
youug as he is for the elevated station which
he holds in our marine, will be fully equal,
we have no doubt, to all the exigencies of the
active duty he has just taken upon himself
To bring into play the resources which our
two West India colonies are able to afford to
us in time Of war, u leader must be popular,
vieilan, and experienced; and in these three
points of view, NJ onsieur de Mackau is the
best person government conld have selected
under circumstances, by which our windward
islands may be required to protect once more
the seas that surround them, from those for
midable privatecrs which. during the late war
rendered the resistance of our two enterprls-
ling colonies SO happily conspicuous.
/ Naval preparations were in active progress
at Toulon and Brest, and levies of sailors
L. were making in all the maratme arrondisse-
ments. We can find no distinct statement
of the force to be employed as the squadron
of observation under vice admiral Mackau,
but one account says that the whole number
Of vessels preparing for sea is Gfteen sail of
the line and as many frigates. We find only
the names, however, Of two ships of the line
and one frigate at Touon, and of three ships
Of the line and four frigates Mt Brest.
We do not think it necessary to copy the
speculatons Of the French journals on the
question Of peace or war, payment or on-pay-
meni; they are more remarkable for cXces-
sive ignorance respecting the political condi-
ton olthis country than for judgment or prob
ability. The following, however, is somewhat
interesting, that is surprising that part of it
which cnumerates the French naval force to
be more correct than that which refers to our
own, and The assumption, touching the equai-
~ of The French and English frigatcs in SIM
Gle combat. The article is from the Courier
Francais.
A Toulon journal has given a series Of ar
ticles, maintaining that the American navy
must have the advantage over the French in
actions of ship with ship, and stating that the
navy Of The United States is at present com
posed Of ships of the line Of "a guns, I of
W hich is armed and equipped, and q commits
stoned in ports; frigates of A guns, Of
which 2 are armed and equipped, and COM
missioned in ports or under repair; 8 lrigatcs
of 35 guns, all armed and equipped; 10 sloops
of from l8 to "a guns of which are armed
and equipped, and the rest commissioned in
port, and schooners all armed and equipped.
This makes n total of 35 ships; but we have
reason to believe that this account is incor-
rect, and that at this moment the United
States have GO ships Of different rates, either
at sea or in port. But, as we shall immedi-
ately show, even this number is insufficient
to contend with the naval force of France
/ Neither can we adm t that in battle, frigate
to frigate, of equal force, the advantage must
necessarily be with the American.
/ What rendered us inferior to the English
at Aboukir and Trafalgar, in great measure
was the brilliant tactics of Nelson, the Napo-
/ leon Of the seas; and the comparative inca
! pacity ofthe commanders-in -chiefofthe fleets
on those occasions. We have always been
! victorious in engagements ship for ship of
equal force, and this will no doubt be the case
in future. This point established, let us COM
4 pare our naval force with that at the disposal
OF the u. s. We have al this moment in the
/ Mediterranean, | first rate ship Of 100 guns,
3 third rates Of so or 80 guns, 5 fourth rates
I of "a guns; total, Q ships of the line. We
have also the same sea, 6 frigates, namely,
OF 90 guns. Of 80 guns, of Al guns, I
( sloop of 2S guns, advice soops Of I8 guns,
10 briggs Of 20 guns and advice briggs of 10
guns, schooner of guns, cutter, gun
boat; 6 store ships, transports, and steam
vessels: making a total of 50 ships in the
/ Mediterranean. We have in the ocean, 9
first rate ships of the line, 9 first rate, sec
ond rate, and 3 third rate frigates, in all z; 5
sloops, and sloop as advice noat; 9 brigs Of
20 guns, 4 of IL guns, and brig as advice
boat, making bngs, schooner and a light
er vessels; 3 store ships and 9 transports, in
all ~; and IL steam vessels. These make
the total Of so ships in the ocean, and carry
ing the general total to 10.
i The Constitutional Of December 1st, says
that the 3 per cents fell Is centimes that
morning, and accounts for the fall by the ma
val preparations at Brest and Toulon.
Several Of the Paris journals nllcge that NJ.
Bois le Comte, skilfnl diplomatist. is to de-
part Immediately for the United States in
fast sailing vessel; but the statement does not
ppear to come from any authentic source.
The absurd notion of an alliance. offensive
and defensive. between the United States and
Russia, is still hnrped upon by some Of the
French papers, and very properly ridiculed
in the English.
4 GREAT BRITAIN.
l. L. G 4 4 4.