The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-31
From the Norfolk Beacon.
NAVAL FORCE OF ENG
LAND, FRANCE, AND AMERICA.

From the NORFOLK bedeo"'
COMPARATIVE NAVAL FORCE OF ENG
LAND, FRANCE, AND AMERICA.
England has foreign tonnage of 3,347 400 q s95
merchant vessels 1912 seamen, and 765 yeseis Oh
war OF all descriptions.
France has foreign tonnage under million her
number of merchant vessels and seamen not exaety
known by us and her vessels OF war OF all desefp
tions number $50
The United States have a foreign tonnage oil
1000, 900; 1866 merchant vessels; lOe Ooo sea-
mem and sirty-eight vessels OF war, exclusive OF
those now being constructed.
The commerce of the United States, according W
the above statement Of the commercial ana military
marine of England and France, has by no means 4
protection proportionate To its extent as compareu WI"
that of those nations. We have only three steal'i
ers while England can at the shortest ho'ee' .o'n
mand AT least ninety OF eleven ships oil the Inc,
only one Il in commission and out OF seventeen
frieates we believe about five only are IN commission
Our Navy is not only deficient IN numerous ana wen
appointed vessels whether steamers lrgates, sioops
or brgs but is not provided with sufhcent number
of depols, well stored arsepals, and improved dock
yards. :
Such is the abundant supply at the dock yards OF
England and France, of materials, ordnance, ana
stores of all descriptions that outfits are prepared TO go
on board at the shortest notices. and vessels can be Mt
ted out from their own resources. We on the other
hand not only have sufficient system, but are sad
died with wasteful and Inefficient one, even the
smallest vessels not being fitted out with despatch at
any of our naval stations, but lying in our harbors
for month after month, at a heavy expense TO The
nation.
The duty of self-deience is primary one, and
none more imperative on the Government than that
of guarding coast against the sudden approach
of fleet of hostile steamers, with which Great Brl-
tain, in the event of war, would attempt TO enter
our harbors seize and destroy merchant vessels,
burn and plumber cities, and attempt to invade
our country.
BY the contract whereby the mails to the West In
dies are TO be carried by navigation, the com
pany agree 10 provide sufficient number (no less
than fourteen) of good, substantial, and eificlent
steam vessels Of such construction and strength as to
be fiji and able to carry guns of the largest calibre
now used on board her Majestys steam vessels of
war each of such vessels to be always supplied with
rstrate appropriate steam engines, oil not less than
four hundred collective horse power, and also suf-
cent number not less than FOUR OF good, substantial
and efficient sailing vessels, of not less than hun
bred tons burden each; all such steam and sailing
vessels always to be supplied and furnished with all
necessary and proper apparel furniture stores tackle
boats fuel oil, tallow, provisions, anchors cables,
fire pumps, and other proper means of extnguishing
fire, and whatever else may be requisite and necessa
nv for equipping such vessels, and rendering them
constantly efficient for the service hereby contracted
to be performed, and also manned with competent
officers, and sufficient crew of able seamen, and
other men and all the said steam vessels to be like
cent engineers, machinery, and engines and to be
in all respects to vessels, engines, equipments, en-
gneers, officers and crew. subject to the approval
of the said commissioners, and Of such persons as
shall at any time and from time to time, have autho
rty, under the said commissioners 10 inspect and
anime the same. - Return to an order OF the homo
rable the House of Commons dated Odd May, 1910.
These mail and packet steamships, in the event Of
a war would be Immediately engaged in the service
of the Government, armed with new or formidable
description OF force.
The subject Of coast and harbor decnces is an i'm
portant at this time and will doubtless shortly
engage the earnest attention of the National Legisla
In addition to the protection of the Atlantic
coast and of the country bordering on the Lakes, the
detences Of the Gulf of Mexico of the very highest
Importance. The narrow pass between Cuba and the
Florida shores constitutes the outleto the vast pro-
auctions Of the Mississippi Valley, and in the event
of with England, the West India mail steamers
would be Immediately converted into war steamers,
which, if no guard is provided for the entrance to the
Mississippi would first assail the country bordering
on the Gulf of Mexico and also blockade the outlet
of the great West.
The Secretary of the Navy, in his report in Janua-
ESdas called the attention Of and OF the
thorough coast defence, and recommended the estab
lishment of depot the Mississippi river at point
sufficiently remote from the to prevent successful
aggression on the part of enemy, where iron war
steamers suited to the navigation of the neigh
boring waters, may be constructed.
1t is stated that the Navy Department is also look
ing with vgilant eye to American interests in other
quarters having directed the fitting out of the frgate
Congress, Captain Worries, and the Columbus, Cap
tain Spencer, to proceed to the Mediterranean sta
ton, also the frigate Constitution, Captain Shu-
brick, to be added to the squadron the coast of
Brazil