The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-23
From the Nsp York Express.
FRENCH AND ENGLISH STEAMERS.

The French we learn by the last arrivals, are max
ing the most extraordinary efforts TO construct steam
ers Of war as an Offset TO British steamers. Ii is
fact but hardly noticed yet though that the adop
ton of this new mode of warfare, exposes Great Bril-
tain TO invasion than ever from the oyerwhelm-
ing military power of France. If Napoleon in his
day, had had our steamers, invasion would not have
been ap idle threat as then he would have been able
to command the winds and waves, and select the
points Of attack
report has been presented to the King of the
French by the Minister of Marine in which II is pro-
posed to do away with all the French steamers OF
between 80 and 30 horse power rather TO sub
stitute larger vessels for them reservng the present
small class steamers for the packet service. The
whole steam-navy of France is then to consist of S
steam-frgetes of $40 horse power Is seam-frigates
of $50 horse power 20 steam-corvettes of from 800
to 300 horse power, and 80 steamboats, of inferior
size--n all 10 steam-vessels of which 40 will be
complete ships of war.
This very considerable force, however exists at
present only paper or the number proposed in
the report Of Admiral Duperrc, % have yet to be
menced mounting in all 1920 horse power.
The committee ON the grant Of extraordinary sup
Elementary credits, has been engaged on the demand
OF the Minister of Marine and Colonies for extra
ordinary credit Of 5,395,OOOf to increase the num-
Der of war steamers.
In the Navy estimates in the British House of
Commons, disposition is evnced to strengthen this
department of the British Marine
Incidentally, and without any reference TO the COM
plants and alarms in this country on this subject it
ia positively denied that the British Government have
any right over the British Steam Packets employed
in carrying the North American and West Indian
mails further than is avowed. The Falmouth
pondent of the London Standard says:
"None of the vessels, either Of the West Indian
of the North American line, (Which, under the able
conduct of Messrs. Mlver, of Liverpool, has been
signally successfully in any way subservient to
Government beyond the proper and efficient per-
Torrance Of their several contracts for the convey
of the mails, and the Government have no more
power TO command them for any other service than
they could vessel the property Of any private and in
divdual INGREDIENT. In the event of War; these ships
would not be employed for war purposes unless pre-
sent contracts were mutually dissolved and the
steamers sold to the Government, and We may most
easily prove that this has been contemplated
by stating that the terms of the contracts actually
make provision for increased remuneration should
occur 10 render their passages more critical
Our opinion 1--WE sincerely trust it may in this
matter have to be tested is, that such veseels
would be rendered and acknow lodged neutral by
all nations, and we have the satisfaction Of knowing
that the same view has been warmly expressed by
men ofhgh authority, not only in other countries, but
also in our own"
The objection, however to these West India steam
is the surveillance they have over coast, and
the study they must necessarily make of our harbors
nor can it be denied, if The possibility has not been
contemplated, that they could be readily converted
into most efficient engines of war. Thus, with such
GIRL arm to strike and Defend II was hardly neces-
sary in the navy estimates to provide for more
steamers
The United States have two steamers Pro-
vision is made for the construction of another. If
Congress would act on the enlarged spirit of MIR.
Secretary Upshurs Report, it would order yet further
liberal appropriations and to employ and exercise
these steamers well as TO make them useful, they
could convey the news either coastwise or from New
York to Liverpool.