The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-12-15
From NOah's Reekiy Messenger.
OUR NAVAL POWER.

80" ''S'i"lSu WIZ WHICH tHe Americans nave
maintained the general effectiveness Of their
navy, it seems singular they should have taken
no particular pains to augment it, although
remarkably attentive to ornaments and dock
yards.
There never has been, at any time. a desire
on the part Of our people to increase the navy
to any extent beyond what was necessary to
protect the interests Of in the vari-
Gus parts of the world. What have the GAG
ships of war achieved for England? A heavy
national debt, the title Of 'mistress of the
seas and a never-failing desire for war and
glory. But we have a substitute worth more,
and in fact more potent, than all the navy Of
England, and that is our private armed marine.
In the event Of war, more than 500 swift sail
ing priguteers will scour the ocean in every
direction. Every large steamship, and every
packet of 1000 tons, will have an armament.
There will be no navy in the world equal to
1t; but as such an armament can only grow out
ofthe contingency of war, there is no necess ty
to expend a dollar in anticipation Of such an
issue.
We are probably the most remarkable peo-
pie on earth for promptness and preparation for
war after it exists. A valuable corps Of
100000 men, armed, equipped, and disciplined,
can be ready for the field in thi ty days after
war is declared, and so it may be said of ships
Of war, We will state one fact illustrative Of
this position. During the war with England i,
and while stationed on the Barbary coast, we
were surprised one day, while exploring the
ruins of Carthage, to see q sharp clipper-bullt
schooner under lulI sail, with the American
flag floating to a brisk breeze, doubling Cape
Bon and making direct for the bay. We rode
down to the fortress of Goletta. ordered a
launch to he made ready, and found ourselves
alongside the schooner, just as she had cast
anchor.
where are you from, sir?'
'From Boston,' replied the captain, a smart,
dashing looking young fellow.
In what passage?'
STwenty-throe days, SIR
We began to have our misgivings Twenty
three days from Boston? We suspected she
had been fitted out at Marseilles to cruise in
the Mediterranean. 1t was the ABILENE, Capt.
Wyer, Of six guns a2d seventy-fve men-a
magnificent lttle craft, We went down into
the truna cabin.
NOW, SIR sand tho captain, 'rll convince
You thlt we are from Boston, and will show
you Boston notions Of every kind, from pump
kins and smoked behring's down to wooden
nutmeqs.' He soon filled the table with all
sorts Of good cheer and sound comforts, with
which the Bostonians know so well how to
furnish a ship. sAnd here,' said he, is the
Boston C%entinel, Major Russell's papor?' All
doubts were now at an end: and while we had
beel parlaklng of fare to which we had long
been accustomed-homely fare, but more well
come on that account-the captain said:
EIf you are surprised at our short passage, SO
far up the Mediterranean, what will you say
when I tell you it is just sixty days since the
keel of this vessel was laid in Boston; but here
we aro!'
We could scarcely credit it.
MAY, that's not all, SIR continued Captain
Wyer. sOn my way here, off CagIiari, | cap
tured two large British ships filled with valua-
bic cargoes and ordered them for this port.
They will be here tomorrow morning.
tWhat! in a neutral port, in which the Brit
ish exercise unlimited influenced They will
never permit US TO sell the cargoes'
tWell, sir, we can only try
Sure enough, next morning early, the ancient
citv of Tunis, honored once by the presence o.
scipio Africanus, Hannibal, and other dlstin'
puished personages, known to history, wa'
thrown into the greatest commotion on seeing
two large and deeply laden ships entering the
port. the stars and stripes floating over The
union lack II startled the British consul anC
all the corps diplomaigue, and we soon saw the
whole bevy on horseback making for the pal
ace.
81 smell sulphur said the captain. There
a storm brewing, and we shall have it soon.'
In an hour a message arrived by a mameluk'
That we were wanted at the palace. Ate
making our toilette, Sidi Ambrosio, our chan
cellor, and Mustapha, the dragoman, were soOI
mounted, and off we paced at a moderate rat
for Bardo. The consular corps were all pre-
sent when we entered the saLG. The Bey
reclining as usual on his large crimson cush
ions, was buslly engaged combing his lon
beard with a tortoise shell comb, studded witt
brilliants, and looking unusually grave
What does all this mean, consul two Brit
ish prizes entering our port, and for what puI
poseh
ITO sell them, your highness!'
What? against our treaty with England!
Certainly not, if there is such a Prohl6ltlo
in the treaty.
The British consul, a most excellent man
unrolled the parch 7ent, to which a seal o
wax was appended, nearly as large as one o
our western cheeses, and commenced readlai