Frederick Marryat – The Complete Collection

Chapter 50

Dreadful to contemplate as this is, and, even more dreadful the system of stimulating the Indian tribes to join us, adding scalping, and the murdering of women and children, to other horrors, still it is the only method to which England could resort, and, indeed, a method to which she would be warranted to resort, in her own behoof. Moreover, in case of a future war, England must not allow it to be of such short duration as was the last; the Americans must be made to feel it, by its being protracted until their commerce is totally annihilated, and their expenses are increased in proportion with the decrease of their means.

Let it not be supposed that England would harass the coasts of America, or raise the Indian tribes against her, from any feeling of malevolence, or any pleasure in the sufferings which must ensue. It would be from the knowledge of the fact that money is the sinews of war; and consequently that, by obliging the Americans to call out so large a force as she must do to defend her coast and to repel the Indians, she would be put to such an enormous expense, as would be severely felt throughout the Union, and soon incline all parties to a cessation of hostilities. It is to touch their pockets that this plan must and will be resorted to; and a war carried on upon that plan alone, would prove a salutary lesson to a young and too ambitious a people. Let the Americans recollect the madness of joy with which the hats and caps were thrown up in the air at New York, when, even after so short a war with England, they heard that the treaty of peace had been concluded; and that too at a time when England was so occupied in a contest, it may be said, with the whole world, that she could hardly divert a portion of her strength to act against America: then let them reflect how sanguinary, how injurious, a protracted war with England would be, when she could direct her whole force against them. It is, however, useless to ask a people to reflect who are governed and ruled by the portion who will not reflect. The forbearance must be on our part; and, for the sake of humanity, it is to be hoped that we shall be magnanimous enough to forbear, for so long as may be consistent with the maintenance of our national honour.

VOLUME THREE, CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

REMARKS--AMERICAN MARINE.

It may be inferred that I naturally directed my attention to everything connected with the American marine, and circumstances eventually induced me to search much more minutely into particulars than at first I had intended to do.

The present force of the American navy is rated as follows:--

Ships of the Line

+===========+==+ Ýof 120 gunsÝ 1Ý +-----------+--+ Ý 80 gunsÝ 7Ý +-----------+--+ Ý 74 gunsÝ 3Ý +-----------+--+ ÝTotal Ý11Ý +===========+==+

Frigates, 1st Class .

+==========+==+ ÝOf 54 gunsÝ 1Ý +----------+--+ Ý44 guns Ý14Ý +----------+--+ ÝTotal Ý15Ý +==========+==+

Frigates, 2nd Class

+==========+=+ ÝOf 30 gunsÝ2Ý +==========+=+

Sloops

+==========+==+ ÝOf 20 gunsÝ12Ý +----------+--+ Ý18 guns Ý 3Ý +----------+--+ ÝTotal Ý15Ý +==========+==+

Schooners

+===========+==+ ÝOf 10 guns Ý 6Ý +-----------+--+ ÝOthers Ý 7Ý +-----------+--+ ÝTotal Ý13Ý +-----------+--+ ÝGrand TotalÝ56Ý +===========+==+

NAVY LIST.

Vessels of War of the United States Navy, September 1837 .

Ships of the Line

+==============+====+===============+====+============================+ ÝName ÝRateÝWhere built ÝWhenÝWhere employed Ý +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ ÝFranklin Ý 74ÝPhiladelphia Ý1815ÝIn ordinary at New York Ý +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ ÝWashington Ý 74ÝPortsmouth, NH.Ý1816ÝDo. do. Ý +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ ÝColumbus Ý 74ÝWashington Ý1819ÝAt Boston (repaired) Ý +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ ÝOhio Ý 80ÝNew York Ý1820ÝDo. do. Ý +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ ÝNorth CarolinaÝ 80ÝPhiladelphia Ý1820ÝIn commission (Pacific) Ý +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ ÝDelaware Ý 80ÝGosport Ý1820ÝAt Norfolk (repaired) Ý +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ ÝAlabama Ý 80Ý Ý ÝOn stocks at Portsmouth, NH.Ý +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ ÝVermont Ý 80Ý Ý ÝDo. at Boston Ý +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ ÝVirginia Ý 80Ý Ý ÝDo. do. Ý +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ ÝNew York Ý 80Ý Ý ÝOn stocks, at Norfolk Ý +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ ÝPennsylvania Ý 120ÝPhiladelphia Ý1837ÝAt Philadelphia Ý +==============+====+===============+====+============================+

Frigates, 1st Class

+=============+====+============+====+=============================+ ÝName ÝRateÝWhere built ÝWhenÝWhere employed Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝIndependence Ý 54ÝBoston Ý1814ÝOn the coast of Brazil Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝUnited StatesÝ 44ÝPhiladelphiaÝ1797ÝIn commission (Mediterranean)Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝConstitution Ý 44ÝBoston Ý1787ÝDo. do. Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝGuerriere Ý 44ÝPhiladelphiaÝ1814ÝIn ordinary at Norfolk Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝJava Ý 44ÝBaltimore Ý1814ÝReceiving ship, do. Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝPotomac Ý 44ÝWashington Ý1821ÝIn ordinary at do. Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝBrandy Wine Ý 44ÝWashington Ý1825ÝDo. do. Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝHudson Ý 44ÝPurchased Ý1826ÝReceiving vessel at New York Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝColumbia Ý 44ÝWashington Ý1836ÝIn ordinary at Norfolk Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝSantee Ý 44Ý Ý ÝOn stocks, at Portsmouth, NH.Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝCumberland Ý 44Ý Ý ÝDo. at Boston Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝSabine Ý 44Ý Ý ÝDo. at New York Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝSavannah Ý 44Ý Ý ÝDo. do. Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝRaritan Ý 44Ý Ý ÝDo. at Philadelphia Ý +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ ÝSt Lawrence Ý 44Ý Ý ÝDo. at Norfolk Ý +=============+====+============+====+=============================+

Frigates, 2nd Class

+=============+====+=================+====+===========================+ ÝName ÝRateÝWhere built ÝWhenÝWhere employed Ý +-------------+----+-----------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝConstellationÝ 36ÝBaltimore Ý1797ÝIn commission (West Indies)Ý +-------------+----+-----------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝMacedonian Ý 36ÝNorfolk (rebuilt)Ý1836ÝReady for sea at Norfolk Ý +=============+====+=================+====+===========================+

Sloops of War

+==========+====+===================+====+===========================+ ÝName ÝRateÝWhere built ÝWhenÝWhere employed Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝJohn AdamsÝ 20ÝNorfolk (rebuilt) Ý1820ÝReady for sea at New York Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝCyane Ý 20ÝBoston (rebuilding)Ý Ý Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝBoston Ý 20ÝBoston Ý1825ÝAt sea Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝLexington Ý 20ÝNew York Ý1825ÝAt sea Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝVincennes Ý 20ÝNew York Ý1826ÝIn ordinary at Norfolk Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝWarren Ý 20ÝBoston Ý1826ÝDo. do. Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝNatches Ý 20ÝNorfolk Ý1827ÝIn commission (West Indies)Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝFalmouth Ý 20ÝBoston Ý1827ÝAt sea Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝFairfield Ý 20ÝNew York Ý1828ÝOn the coast of Brazil Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝVandalia Ý 20ÝPhiladelphia Ý1828ÝIn commission (West Indies)Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝSt Louis Ý 20ÝWashington Ý1828ÝDo. do. Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝConcord Ý 20ÝPortsmouth Ý1828ÝIn commission (West Indies)Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝErie Ý 18ÝNew York (rebuilt) Ý1820ÝAt Boston Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝOntario Ý 18ÝBaltimore Ý1813ÝAt sea Ý +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ ÝPeacock Ý 18ÝNew York Ý1813ÝIn ordinary at Norfolk Ý +==========+====+===================+====+===========================+

Schooners

+==================+==+============+====+================================+ ÝDolphin Ý10ÝPhiladelphiaÝ1821ÝOn the Coast of Brazil Ý +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ ÝGrampus Ý10ÝWashington Ý1821ÝIn commission (West Indies) Ý +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ ÝShark Ý10ÝWashington Ý1821ÝIn the Mediterranean Ý +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ ÝEnterprise Ý10ÝNew York Ý1831ÝIn commission (East Indies) Ý +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ ÝBoxer Ý10ÝBoston Ý1731ÝIn the Pacific Ý +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ ÝPorpoise Ý10ÝBoston Ý1836ÝAtlantic coast Ý +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ ÝExperiment Ý 4ÝWashington Ý1831ÝEmployed near New York Ý +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ ÝFox (hulk) Ý 3ÝPurchased Ý1823ÝAt Baltimore (condemned) Ý +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ ÝSea Gull (galliot)Ý ÝPurchased Ý1823ÝReceiving vessel at PhiladelphiaÝ +==================+==+============+====+================================+

Exploring Vessels

+===============+=+============+====+===============================+ ÝRelief Ý ÝPhiladelphiaÝ1836Ý Ý +---------------+-+------------+----+-------------------------------+ ÝBarque Pioneer Ý ÝBoston Ý1836ÝNew York (nearly ready for sea)Ý +---------------+-+------------+----+-------------------------------+ ÝBarque Consort Ý ÝBoston Ý1836Ý Ý +---------------+-+------------+----+-------------------------------+ ÝSchooner ActiveÝ ÝPurchased Ý1837Ý Ý +===============+=+============+====+===============================+

The ratings of these vessels will, however, very much mislead people as to the real strength of the armament. The 74's and 80's are in weight of broadside equal to most three-decked ships; the first-class frigates are double-banked of the scantling, and carrying the complement of men of our 74's. The sloops are equally powerful in proportion to their ratings, most of them carrying long guns. Although flush vessels, they are little inferior to a 36-gun frigate in scantling, and are much too powerful far any that we have in our service, under the same denomination of rating. All the line-of-battle ships are named after the several states, the frigates after the principal rivers, and the sloops of war after the towns, or cities , and the names are decided by lot.

It is impossible not to be struck with the beautiful architecture in most of these vessels. The Pennsylvania, rated 120 guns, on four decks, carrying 140, is not by any means so perfect as some of the line-of-battle ships.

Note. The following are the dimensions given me of the ship of the line Pennsylvania:--

+================================================+====+======+ Ý ÝfeetÝinchesÝ +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ ÝIn extreme length over all Ý 237Ý Ý +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ ÝBetween the perpendiculars on the lower gun-deckÝ 220Ý Ý +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ ÝLength of keel for tonnage Ý 190Ý Ý +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ ÝMoulded breadth of beam Ý 56Ý 9Ý +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ Ýdo. do. from tonnage Ý 57Ý 6Ý +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ ÝExtreme breadth of beam outside the wales Ý 59Ý Ý +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ ÝDepth of lower hold Ý 23Ý Ý +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ ÝExtreme depth amidships Ý 51Ý Ý +================================================+====+======+

Burthen 3366 tons, and has ports for 140 guns, all long thirty-two pounders, throwing 2240 pounds of ball at each broadside, or 4480 pounds from the whole.

The Ohio is, as far as I am a judge, the perfection of a ship of the line. But in every class you cannot but admire the superiority of the models and workmanship. The dock-yards in America are small, and not equal at present to what may eventually be required, but they have land to add to them if necessary. There certainly is no necessity for such establishments or such store-houses as we have, as their timber and hemp are at hand when required; but they ate very deficient both in dry and wet docks. Properly speaking, they have no great naval depot. This arises from the jealous feeling existing between the several states. A bill brought into Congress to expend so many thousand dollars upon the dock-yard at Boston, in Massachusetts, would be immediately opposed by the state of New York, and an amendment proposed to transfer the works intended to their dock-yard at Brooklyn. The other states which possess dock-yards would also assert their right, and thus they will all fight for their respective establishments until the bill is lost, and the bone of contention falls to the ground.

+=======================================+====+ ÝHer mainmast from the step to the truckÝ 278Ý +---------------------------------------+----+ ÝMain yard Ý 110Ý +---------------------------------------+----+ ÝMain-topsail yard Ý 82Ý +---------------------------------------+----+ ÝMain-top-gallant yard Ý 52Ý +---------------------------------------+----+ ÝMain-royal yard Ý 36Ý +---------------------------------------+----+ ÝSize of lower shrouds Ý0 11Ý +---------------------------------------+----+ ÝDo. of mainstay Ý0 19Ý +---------------------------------------+----+ ÝDo. of sheet-cable Ý0 25Ý +=======================================+====+

The sheet-anchor, made at Washington, weighs 11,660 pounds

Main-topsail contains 1,531 yards.

The number of yards of canvass for one suit of sails is 18,341, and for bags, hammocks, boat-sails, awnings, etcetera, 14,624; total 32,965 yards.

The Americans considered that in the Pennsylvania they possessed the largest vessel in the world, but this is a great mistake; one of the Sultan's three-deckers is larger. Below are the dimensions of the Queen, lately launched at Portsmouth

+===================================+====+======+ Ý ÝfeetÝinchesÝ +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝLength on the gun-deck Ý 204Ý 0Ý +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝDo. of keel for tonnage Ý 166Ý 5.25Ý +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝBreadth extreme Ý 60Ý 0Ý +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝDo. for tonnage Ý 59Ý 2Ý +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝDepth in hold Ý 23Ý 8Ý +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝBurden in tons (No. 3,099) Ý Ý Ý +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝExtreme length aloft Ý 247Ý 6Ý +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝExtreme height forward Ý 56Ý 4Ý +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝDo. midships Ý 50Ý 8Ý +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝDo. abaft Ý 62Ý 6Ý +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝLaunching draught of water, forwardÝ 14Ý 1Ý +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝDo. abaft Ý 19Ý 0Ý +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝHeight from deck to deck, gun-deck Ý 7Ý 3Ý +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝDo. middle-deck Ý 7Ý 0Ý +-----------------------------------+----+------+ ÝDo. main-deck Ý 7Ý 0Ý +===================================+====+======+

Note. There are seven navy yards belonging to, and occupied for the use of the United States, viz.--The navy yard at Portsmouth, NH, is situated on an island, contains fifty-eight acres, cost 5,500 dollars.

The navy yard at Charlestown, near Boston, is situated on the north side of Charles river, contains thirty-four acres, and cost 32,214 dollars.

The navy yard at New York is situated on Long Island, opposite New York, contains forty acres, and cost 40,000 dollars.

The navy yard at Philadelphia is situated on the Delaware river, in the district of Southwark, contains eleven acres to low water mark, and cost 27,000 dollars.

It is remarkable that along the whole of the eastern coast of America, from Halifax in Nova Scotia down to Pensacola in the Gulf of Mexico, there is not one good open harbour. The majority of the American harbours are barred at the entrance, so as to preclude a fleet running out and in to manoeuvre at pleasure; indeed, if the tide does not serve, there are few of them in which a line-of-battle ship, hard pressed, could take refuge. A good spacious harbour, easy of access, like that of Halifax in Nova Scotia, is one of the few advantages, perhaps the only natural advantage, wanting in the United States.