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The United States' navy is already composed of 62 vessels, among which are four 74's, that mount from 96 to 102 guns each, and 10 frigates of 36 and 41, the latter of which mount 56 guns. The rest are brigs, corvets, schooners, ketches and bomb vessels, generally of 12, 18, and 24 guns. They have, besides, one steam frigate, and another nearly finished, for the defence of harbours, and several gallies, gun boats, and barges. There are five naval depots: at Washington, Philadelphia, Norfolk, New York, and Charlestown, in Massachusetts, at each of which ships and frigates are now on the stocks, for the augmentation of the navy. The United States manifest the most decided and constant zeal, for the progressive increase of their naval force, and it will not be long before they have a formidable fleet. In 1816, Congress appropriated one million of dollars annually, for a period of eight years, for the augmentation of the national fleet, and authorized the President to build nine ships of the line, to mount at least 74 guns, and 12 frigates, to carry at least 44. One of the ships of the line, is already finished, and launched at Washington, forming one of the four of which I have
from his pen. He seems correctly to understand the only principles that can give solidity to a government, or render the power of a nation formidable; and in this exposition, there is a fair acknowledgment on the part of his Majesty's Minister, that our Republick is not vain without reason. T.
