Washington telegraph., 1850-01-02
From the N. Y. Sunday Times and Messenger
OUR NAVAL POWER.

From the ~ Y. Sunday Times and Messenger
OUR NAVAL POWER.
The London Times says that, consider
ing the vigalence with which the Ameri
cans have maintained the general afec
tiveness of their navy, it seems singular
they should have taken no Particular pains
to augment it, although remarkably at.
tentve to armaments and dock-yards
There never has been, at any period, a
desire on the part of our people to in
crease the navy to what was necessary to
| protect the Interests of commerce in vari.
Gus parts of the world What have the
GAG ships of war achieved for England!
| A heavy national debt, the title "mistress
| of the seas and a never-lailing desire
for war and glory. But we have sub.
stitute worth more, and in fact more
potent. than all the navy of England,
aud that is our private armed marine. In
| the event of war, more than 500 swift
sailing privateers 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 it; but as such an
armament can only grow ont of the con-
tingency Of war. there is no necessity to
expend dollar in anticipation of such
! an issue.
We are probably the most remarkable
| people on earth for promptness and pre-
| paration for war after it exists. A valu-
able corps of 100000 men, aimed equip
ped, and disciplined, can be ready for the
| field in thirty days after war is declared,
aud so it may be said of ships of war
| We will state one fact illustrative of this
position. During the war with England,
and while stationed on the Rarbary coast,
we were surprised one day. while explor-
ing the ruins of Carthage, to see sharp
clipper built schooner under full sail,
| with the American flag floating to brisk
breeze, doubling Cape Bon and making
direct for the bay. We rode down to the
| fortress of Goletta, ordered launch to
| be made ready, and found ourselves along
side the schooner just as she lad cast
anchor.
"Where are you from, sir!!"
'From Boston" replied the Captain, a
smart distinguishing young fellow.
"ln what passage?'
| "Twenty-three days, Sir.
| We began 10 have our misgivings.
Twenty-three days from Boston! We
suspected she had been fitted out at
MarseilIes to cruise in the Mediterranean.
1t was the Abeleno. Capt. Wyer, of six
guns and seventy-fve men-a maguiii-
cent little craft. We went down into
the trunk cabin.
| - Il. AZ
convince you that we are from Boston,
aud will show you Boston notions of
every kind, from pumpkins and smoked
| herrngs down to wooden nutmegs" He
soon filled the table with all the good
cheer and solid comforts with which the
Bostoniaus know so well how to furnish
ship. ''And here" said he, "is the
Boston Centinel, Major Russel's paper.
All doubts were now at an end: and while
we had been partaking of fare to which
we had loug been aocustOmed-homely
fare, but more welcome Oh that account
the Captain said;
eff you are surprised at Our short pas
sage so far up the Mediterranean, what
will you say when l tell you it is just
sixty days since the keel of this vessel
was laid in Boston; yet here we are.'
We could scarcely credit it.
"Nay, that's not all, SIR" continued
Captain Wyer. "On my way here, OIL
Cagliari, | captured two large British
ships filled with valuable cargoes, and
ordered them for this port. They will be
here Tomorrow morning.
"What! in neutral port, i'll which the
British exercise unlimited influence!
They will never permit us to sell the
cargoes."
"Well, sir, we can only try"
Sure enough, next morning early, the
ancient city of Tunis, honored once by
the presence of Scipo Africanus, Hanni-
bal, and other distinguished personages
known to history, was thrown into the
greatest commotion on seeing two .arge
and deeply laden ships entering the port
the stars and stripes floating over the
union jack. 1t startled the British Con
sui and all the corps dipIomatsque. and
we soon saw the whole bevy on horse
back making for the palace. =