The native American., 1838-05-12
ENGLISH STEAM BATTERIES.

ENGLISH STEAM BATTERIES.
This species of vessels has been found to be practi
caly valuable in the English service for the defence of
coasts and upon stations where celebrity Of movement
well as certainty in the union of force is desirable.
The first battery Of this kind the atrican, of one
hundred horse power, built in 1926 at Woolwich, and
now employed upon the Irish coast Since then there
have been ten Of larger capacites-sx of the
power, and Of less, put in commission making in
all nineteen batteries whose aggregate force of steam
two thousand and sixty horse power The largest
of two hundred and twenty each; they dispersed
through the Mediterranean the Tagus-the West
Indies-aDd upon home duty. Such has been the ra
pid increase of the number that with the exception of
one of them they have been all commissioned within the
last two years
If so old maritime nation England has found the
value Of this branch Of defence in short period it
should admonsh to profit by her experience and fol-
low the example without delay.
Our Navy, which is more strictly American than any
other employed portion Of the nation, would be fit
school in which the Native principles might be extended
and perpetuated by augmentng the number of its Off
GERS and seamen-addng others the list Of its wooden
walls-givng employment to our mechanics-and at the
same time furnishing the means to enforce redress
sist wrongs.
Our present force in this of our defence is en-
trey too small to aid much in any of the military
contingencies that usually happen in the relations of
great country with other powers. With all boast
ing about asking for nothing that is not right and taking
nothing less than is DUE have not the power to
force either of those principles against the weakest
power of Europe.
When, few years since, the controversy growing out
Of the convention with France, gave color of war to
the then state of things could not have put four fri
scl
than four months and those that then out upon
mote stations would have become prey to the diff
ierent squadrons already prepared by France for that
purpose There was union at home among the citi-
zens upon the subject of by of want Of
nationality of character and feeling All the other three
quarters Of the World we'll represented among
were. and the patriotic aspirations of the Ameri
cans to maintain the rights and honor of their country
were lost in the heterogeneous multitude of patriots from
other shores
The United States might have been devastated almost
with entire mpunity from end TO the other, and so
might be now. We would cali the attention of Con
gress to the fact, that while neighbours com
planning of Mexico for attempt to enforce blockade
of portion Of her revolted colony, Texas, we are
tamely permitting trench Brig -ofwa to interrupt our
trade with Mexico and blockade the whole Gulf without
any previous declaration Of While public notice is
invited to this fact let Legislators also know that il
we were to marshal the whole American Navy between
Cape Florida and Vera Cruz, could not keep the
French from gripping commerce, yet prevent
their landing upon any portion of the unprotected coast
they might select for that purpose These things there
fore call for prompt action by Congress- the Navy should
be doubled, ave. quadruped with all reasonable speed
and in the time Steam Batteries might be built to
guard and survey coasts. and nursery for
the instruction and encouragement of younger
men.
The contrast between the dsposahle force of Great
Britain and our Navy, is great. that the two pictures
have only to be presented in order to urge TO enlarge
our
In February, 1885, had II seventy yfours; Is fri.
gates Of the first css ditto of the second do 10 soops
of war; 8 small schooners.
On the lst of January, 1885, England had first rates
of from lo4 to 12O guns each second rates Of from 80
to 90 guns each; third rates of from "a to IS guns
each seventy fours fourth rates of so to so guns
rgaes of from SO TO guns 10 ships of 22 to 26 guns;
% soops of war; 46 gun briggs IL surveying vessels of
from TO 10 gns 10 steam batteries; "a soops of war
fitted as packets.
The United States have therefore 50 ships of war, of
comparatively small rates. while England has ls6, Of
larger dimensions