[N]Many appear to be of opinion, that if Bonaparte could get the command of the seas, or had it in his power, he would reduce London to ashes, and destroy the arts and manufactures of England. Carthage is always cited as an example of a conqueror's vengeance. This, however, has never been my opinion, because it is not justified by any act of his life. In all the countries he has conquered, he has ever respected the sciences and useful arts; he has not burned Vienna, Berlin, or Madrid. Had he no other motive, his own fame, in a great measure, depends on the protection which he may give to the sciences. But, independent of this, I believe he well understands the benefit which Europe receives from English arts and industry; and his war is not against them, but against the manner in which their profits are applied; that is, against the marine, and interference of the British government in all the concerns of the continent.
[N]Many appear to be of opinion, that if Bonaparte could get the command of the seas, or had it in his power, he would reduce London to ashes, and destroy the arts and manufactures of England. Carthage is always cited as an example of a conqueror's vengeance. This, however, has never been my opinion, because it is not justified by any act of his life. In all the countries he has conquered, he has ever respected the sciences and useful arts; he has not burned Vienna, Berlin, or Madrid. Had he no other motive, his own fame, in a great measure, depends on the protection which he may give to the sciences. But, independent of this, I believe he well understands the benefit which Europe receives from English arts and industry; and his war is not against them, but against the manner in which their profits are applied; that is, against the marine, and interference of the British government in all the concerns of the continent.
What kind of a marine would obtain for us that consideration and respect which would give to our merchant ships unmolested admittance into the ports of Europe? Fifty ships of 80 guns each, and thirty thousand men, certainly could not guarantee to us such respect. Russia has a greater naval force, and dare not show a ship out of the Baltic. Yet fifty such ships would cost the United States twenty-five millions of dollars, and seven millions of dollars a year; which, added to repairs, dock-yards, arsenals, navy-boards, and agents, may be estimated at ten millions a year. But even could such a marine secure to us a reasonable liberty of commerce, America could not now bear such an expenditure; and where is the additional commerce to pay for ten millions a year, expended to protect it? Should our resources, in twenty years, enable us to support such a marine, I have shewn, that the British can augment their fleets also, and spare a force to meet us at sea. But were America to try her finances to the utmost, and establish a marine equal to fifty ships of 80 guns, it would be to us the greatest of misfortunes; for so many persons would become interested in obtaining a support from it, that, like England, we should continue adding, until our successors would find it a power superior to their liberty—one which would load them with taxes, press their children into senseless wars, nor leave them permission to complain. Should we everbe necessitated to have a marine of a force to be respected, such are the accumulated evils under which our posterity must suffer. But if science and energy should sweep military marines from the ocean, America will be the garden of the world—an example for Europe to imitate. When we contemplate the immense sums which are expended in European marine establishments, and calculate the infinite good which might have been done with the capital, we have to lament that man, instead of gratifying his ambition in wars and devastation, has not sought a more noble and lasting fame in promoting the arts, the sciences, and civilization.
The annual expence of the navy of Great Britain amounts to upwards of thirteen millions a year; as long as war continues, the expence will not be diminished; but taking the chance of war and peace for the succeeding twenty-five years, and estimate that the marine will cost ten millions a year, the expenditure in twenty-five years will be two hundred and fifty millions of pounds sterling. If driven to have a marine, such might be the expenditure of our successors; if we can avoid it, the capital might be expended in useful work. I will now give a short sketch of the improvements which might be made in America for such a sum:
First, twelve canals, running from the eastern and northern parts of the United States to the south, each fifteen hundred miles long, and fifty miles distant from each other, equal to eighteen thousand miles; thirty canals, running from the sea coast to the interior, each six hundred miles long and fifty miles apart, or eighteen thousand miles—total, thirty-six thousand miles, at three thousand pounds sterling a mile, amounting to one hundred and eight millions. Canals to this extent, would intersect a country fifteen hundred miles long six hundred miles wide, equal nine hundred thousand square miles, or seven hundred and fifty-six millions of acres, not an acre of which would be more than twenty-five miles from canal carriage; and which acres, allowing six to an individual which is equal to the density of English population, or say seven, allowingfor rivers, roads, and canals, would be ample space in a country which, by its improvements, must be fertile for one hundred and eight millions of inhabitants.
The two hundred and fifty millions, raised by loan and funded at five per cent. would, if expended on a marine, lay a tax on the people of 12,500,000l.sterling a year, equal to 55,555,555 dollars a year, with a horde of excise-men and tax-gatherers, to torment honest industry. But if expended on canals, the profits to transport would pay the interest, and give inconceivable advantages to the people. Such communications would facilitate every species of industry. Canals bending round the hills, would irrigate the grounds beneath, and convert them into luxuriant pasturage. They would bind a hundred millions of people in one inseparable compact—alike in habits, in language, and in interest; one homogeneous brotherhood, the most invulnerable, powerful, and respectable on earth. Say, legislators, you who direct the destinies of this great nation, shall Americans, like servile creatures of established habits, imitate European vices, or copy them because they are familiar? Shall they nourish a useless marine, lay the basis for its increase, and send it down the current of time to futurity with all its complicated evils? Shall such a system consume our resources, deprive the earth of improvements, draw into its vortex ambitious men, divert the best talents of our country from useful works, and interest them in its support—creating non-productive labourers, who must be the consumers of the produce ofthe productive class, and diminish their enjoyments? Or will you search into the most hidden recesses of science, to find a means for preventing such incalculable evils? And direct the genius and resources of our country to useful improvements, to the sciences, the arts, education, the amendment of the public mind and morals. In such pursuits, lie real honour and the nation's glory; such are the labours of enlightened republicans—those who labour for the public good. Every order of things, which has a tendency to remove oppression and meliorate the condition of man, by directing his ambition to useful industry is, in effect, republican. Every system, which nourishes war and its consequent thousands of idlers and oppressors, is aristocratic in its effects, whatever may be its name. These sentiments exhibit my political creed, the object of all my exertions; and these principles, practised by Americans, will create for them a real grandeur of character, which will secure to them the respect and admiration of the civilized world.
FINIS
Number and Nature of Ordnance for each of the Ships in the British Navy
For "Notes on Vessels of War of the United States" seepages 6 and 7.
Dimensions of Ships, Number of Men, and Draught of Water
N. B. The usual Complement of Marines is one for every gun in the shipFor "Notes on Vessels of War of the United States" seepages 6 and 7.
Transcriber's NoteThe Plates were moved to the start of the section describing them.Hyphenation was standardized.The Table of Contents was added by the transcriber.The original had two page numbers shown: one in the upper left or right corner and another in the middle of the bottom of each text page. The upper page numbering was retained here.The book cover image was created by the transcriber using an image made available by Internet Archive and is placed in the Public Domain.
Transcriber's Note
The Plates were moved to the start of the section describing them.
Hyphenation was standardized.
The Table of Contents was added by the transcriber.
The original had two page numbers shown: one in the upper left or right corner and another in the middle of the bottom of each text page. The upper page numbering was retained here.
The book cover image was created by the transcriber using an image made available by Internet Archive and is placed in the Public Domain.