The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-08-03

| HOME SQUADRON The report made TO the
House of Representatives by Mr.. King, of Georgia
in behalf of the Committee Naval Affairs, ex-
cites at this moment universal attention 1t is CIV.
ing but faint praise, TO say that il is able and
important document, not only deserving Of but de-
handing the earnest and immediate attention oil
our law makers Ii forciply points out not only
| the defeDceless condition of our coast from one
extreme TO the other but also that of our principal
cities, and shows how completely they are at the
mercy of any foreign foe who might choose TO
| assail us through the agency ofsteam. Toremedy
this, it states that no measure is imperious.
ly demanded by every consideration OF prudence
and safety than the employment of home squad
ron, composed in part of armed steamers re-
commended by the Secretary Of the Navy We
trust there is trueAmerican who w i'll willing
y coincide with this portion OF the report, but il
there is even one who is not convinced that a
necessity exists for immediate action the above
recommendation ofthe committee we would askhim
for a moment to rehectupon the following facts con
fdent, that they only require to be made known
to remove the doubts of the most skeptical. II is
admitted that some of our Notifications falling
rapidly to decaY-o,hers remain unfinished
without the sufficient number of guns, and not one
among the number properly garrisoned And
again. even if plentifully supplied with cannon and
ammunition, there but few points they could
protect and in no way could they be made ser vice
able against the armed steamers Of an enemy.
Especially may this be sad of our southern coast
where there are harbors, ornamentcdwith forts,
that could not fire single gun Let US then turn
10 the northern portion of the Atlantic and we W i'll
find things scarcely, if at all better in that direc
tion.--The city of New York itselfm ght be sacked
before sufficient force could be collected to pre-
vent the escape Of the enemy. Allowing thsu
perfectly defenceless situaiion-let the doubtful
reflect on the great advances which England and
France have made and still continue to make, in
adopting steam armed vessels. ltls known
that the British are about establishing line of
armed steamers, fourteen in number, to run be-
tween such ports in England as may be directed
the West India Islands, South America, Mexico
and the United States. t.s.'sf'd iss- sAtH 49,
That this line will prove Of essential service 10
all parts in time of peace, there is left to
doubt, but it must not be forgot, that il will place
in the hands Of Great Britain, a tremendous power
TO be used in case war, with dread ful efficiency.
Those steamers added to. Cunard's line, the num-
Der Of which we understand are TO BIO doubled ,and
a projected line between England and ST. Johns,
N. b. will form feet, which, as We stand at this
moment could destroy our entire, sea- boafd--for in
the event of a declaration of war by Great Britain,
tho West India mail fleet could be collected at any
point on the southern coast by The time the news
could redch Washington--and those onuhed north-.|
orn lines could commence hostiiites before the
least pr eparaton could be mado to meet them
Boston 1'mes. AZ "a nGh 8H al ER
THE BEE BUSINESS Mr. Rice, Of Ripley, Erie
,ouu;y, Pa, has an extensive establishment for
keeping bees. Twenty years ago he had one
'wsruizz from witch in IL years, he. bad 39G
,warms. The Erie Gazette states that they had
hen become so powerful that they commenced