Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-06-03
LEt,m ne Rnliin,ols dmetienr.

published few days ago from Canadian pa
per stated thai the British Admiralty Builder
Mr. Tucker, had arrived BY The last steame: on
tour OF military inspection on the Lake ironileT
He is now visiting the principal points on The
British line. with Il view 10 their being put in Il
stale defence.
The means Of defence, however, and of offence
also. on which England mainly relies, upon the
Lakes. are those furnished by her canal commu-
nications with the ocean. BY these fleet oil
LIGHT steamers and war vessels Could be convey
ed from The mouth OF the ST. Lawrence directly
into Lakes Erie and Ontario; and thus The vast
resources OF the British Navy could be made
available 10 any required extent on the inland
waters which separate Us from Canada.
Lieut.. Maury has called the public attention TO
the subject of our Lake deienceS IN series oil
articles, the last OF which, accompanied BY map,
appeared recently in the Washington papers
The views set forth by this sensible ollicer are
emnently practical and 10 The point they are
also comprehensive and national. In The event
OF war with England he contends that hosil-
lies on The Lakes would inevitably be carried on
by ships. and that nv ships only can We defend
ourselves. Ills idle 10 talk OF building these at-
Ter the war shall have commenced, for England
has ship canal to the Lakes, wholly within her
control through which she could send her fleets
ready for action and prepared 10 sweep The Lakes
and 10 demolish al once every navy yard Or naval
station that we might attempt 10 establish.
1t is urged by Lieut. Mauy, and win great
force, that ship canal OF our own, connecting
Lake Michigan with the Mississippi, and thus
enabling Us 10 bring our naval resources 10 Dear
upon The Lakes, would be the only eltectual mode
OF meeting and battling the hostile designs of
England. Lake Michigan is the only one OF the
Lakes wholly within our territory. By suitable
delences on the North il may be made securely
ours Here then, on the waters OF Michigan,
secluded and safe, we should have place conve-
nienl for supplies and out OF the cnemyS reach,
where we could collect our forces equip our YES
sells and 90 forth in strength 10 contest The supre-
macy on Erie and Ontario, or 10 invade The enc
my's connlry "The Straits OF Macknaw,
says Lieut. Maury, care narrow and may be
rendered impresnabe. Fofliiy lhem-lhey are
your Gibraltar Tap This Lake WIN a snip canal
1t is your Mediterranean. Erect your naval
magazines al Chicago-this is your Touon.-
Do these and Lake Michigan becomes "emphai-
cay onr own sea, where no nag can enter ex-
cent the "slars and stripes" Here Mrn IS he
Ken Of The Ldhes-p0ur poh'roy 10 ne Brfi$a
Prorinces; lie piacc al rdch ~ maT, 0nr toTCcs are
10 be cohectcd and irom rhfh onr GtpNditom
against Caaada are 10 be fiied mt and 10 SCI SAT-
As a SOFT OF permanent preparation, Il IS sug-
gesled that the snag boats OF The Western rivers,
in the employment Of the Government, should be
so constructed as 10 be readily converted INTO arm
ed cruisers; thai The mails should be- carried in
boats of similar construction; and that naval
depot should be established al Chicago. Lieut..
Maury then adds:
ain Two or three weeks after the commence
ment OF hostiies. these vessels, together with as
many light steamers a, The navy affords, amount
ing in all To fleet OF some twenty or thirty sail,
could appear on Lake Michigan in complete or
der for action. Following these would come,
crowded with men and the munitions OF war, as
many river boats as the wants Of The nation would
REQUIRE. Entering this Mediterranean, the same
vessels would then serve as transports, and might
sail Immediately, il the rivers ST. Clair and De-
lrot were passabe, as they are not, Tor Nolia.
wasca Ray and the INVASION OF Canada.
Disseminating here, an American army OF
Western marksmen would be IN The heart OF The
enemy's country, in The rear OF ms rong-holds,
and within one or lwo days march OF Toronto,
on Lake Ontario Now threaten Montreal with
Eastern militia. AMI amG>e the enemy III 'front.'
With his attention thus divided, Upper Canada
muSl fall The peninsula thus becomes ours,
and We have clear passage lnlo Lrie, II not IN
10 Ontario also. To say The Least, successful
manpuvre Of this kind would give complete
command OF the Lakes and The entrance 10 them"
A general summary OF the measures proposed
for the Lake deiences, presents these as The pro-
minent features: y ship canal from the Misss-
spp 10 the Lakes-a naval depot al Chicaeo-a
Navy Yard Tor repairs near The straits Of Macki-
nav, with iors 10 command hem-another on
Lake Erie, either al Erie or Buffalo, or some
other convenient harbor capable OF being strongly
iorifrl-and another on Lake Ontario. These
two latter establishments would be mainly impor.
,ant, as auxiliary 10 the rest OF the system.
II Since the above article was written. the
following item has come under our notice, copied
from the Toronto (Canada) Globe:
"Mr Tucker, The Admiralty Builder, who
came out in The last steamer, has given instruc-
lions for The budding Of tro Var Steamers, on
Lake Enc, ,rth The ntmos, despatch. We under
stand that the Niagara Dock Company are The
contractors"