The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-10-18
H4vS Work Aarbor DsfAucss.
To TEE HplroR or rH1 HAN AIN.

In your edition OF Sunday October TO- there is a
letter from Pensacola signed G, which is caculsted
10 give entirely wrong impression as the
OF defence. in Of ala enenys appearance IN the
| waters OF New York harosr.
| Your correspondents disguise Is 40 fiimsy that
apart from any personal knowledge of mis- character
Il is impossible to suppose him anxious TO conceal
his identity indeed may FAY that nothing could
crafty his fearless controversial spirit than
cpeu recognition of his authorship. II is therefore
proper to remark that during the long period Of his
military career in which he attained to tie rank Of
Major in the engineer corps Of the srny, bis pro-
iessional crotchets were such as 70 deprive
hin, Of the Official consideration 100 FAR
IL his opinions are concened) 70 winch his talent
attalnmenrs and gentiemsnly bearing would seem
to eptiti, Ina.
A most remarkable greed of ne rspaper no.oriety
has already prompted him to the Tu0licasion a.
similar efusons 70 the present one several pre-
vous OCCASIONS, and in addition be has been at the
trouble and expense OF publishing and distributing
broad est, over the whole civilized world, 'sys'
tens OF forsidcSsion' OF bis own inyeltiou. These
frequent denunciations of 'old fogyism,n however
! together with his new lights and other indca-
| tiors of genius, have been simply rldicuiea and
quietly ignored by every professional man - whom
| they have been submitted. It would ssem there
fore. thsd the age 10 which we live 10 not sble 10
| appreciate The Developments of military .genius
! and Engineering sagacity, OF which your corresp
| cognition oi these qualities from 3 future gene
| ration
In consideration OF these facts, it might, perhaps
lie nv proper course 70 allow this last attempt 10 tall
stiil-born, like so many Others upon insensibse
universe; but know your corresp Jndent to be a
highly accomplished and gallant although wrong
headed gentleman, aud while would gladly crafty
him by notice of his letter. ! must, az the slo1e
time, protest against the correctness OF his views
To all professional men, whether OF the army or
navy, such protest is o. course, unr ecessary: but
Al. lit =
bis communication .ha. might b. possibility, carry
conyic ion dis Classical quotations, also, are not
without Q certain impcesslveness that Is perfectly
unapswe.lble 70 s mere English education.
In view Of all these difhcul ties, however, would
state lev simple facts, which appear 20 have
lain altogether to near the surface - he s1scersi
bic 10 one 20 gifted with depth q inc7ht as your
correspondent
In The irst place, every point upon which he in
sists, with an air. By the way, which would suggest
the idea 0. divine inspiration in arriving at the
ciusions set FORTH has been 20 long under discus
sion as 10 Dartake OF the Mature OF s'erreotyped
/ engineering slang.
In the next place. the entire question at issne has
been SO ably discussed ia all ts posi- Die bearings,
/ (in communication addressed % the Mayer and
! Chamber o. Commerce u New York, ard published
in enc o. The New Iogk dailics, the l1tn OF Jelly
1850 thai nothing more remains ~ te said on the
subject.
/ Ana iast.y-this however, Is mere ca pies,ion 81
! opinion ofiser ofthe navy, whose profess n
! al pride is not 20 he iTpelched and who has rot
boen Indifferent 70 the Capabilities VI re Tn rartlc
Ian branch o. the public defence, cheerilLly defy
the gallan: Major ~ make any impression Whatever
upon the security OF Nes York, with any hos1ng
force tnst hs Imagination muster together, srer
N, forticafions nov IN Of construction aud
al which he sneers with such calm di sdsin, shall
have been completed.
As regards the personal s0i.e displayed by yoGr
correspondent toward the venerable Che! Engineer
Of The army prefer 20 leave that matter FOR the
Major 70 rpent Of a. his leisure, when The fires Of
youth shah have exhausted the extraordinary
amount Of infammabe material in his composition.
can only sd a regret that my official Obligations
will not allow M leisure 10 crafty tie Major b. .
continuation Of this controversy; but having sho
that bis ideas Of fertilization arc peculiar 70 him-
and having pointed out where correcs notions Of tie
| New Yofk hsrbor defenses can lie found, l must
leave him 70 tho enjoyment OF sueb opposition 70 he
yows az lie can tnd in other quarters II.
NEW York, DC. ~ 1857.