moderate scale
for less than fifty millions of dollars, nor manned in time of war with
less than fifty thousand men, and in peace, two thousand. And when
done, they avail little; because all military men agree, that wherever a
vessel may pass a fort without tacking under her guns, which is the case
at all our sea-port towns, she may be annoyed more or less, according
to the advantages of the position, but can never be prevented. Our
own experience during the war proved this on different occasions. Our
predecessors have, nevertheless, proposed to go into this system, and
had commenced it. But, no law requiring us to proceed, we have suspended
it.

If we cannot hinder vessels from entering our harbors, we should turn
our attention to the putting it out of their power to lie, or come to,
before a town, to injure it. Two means of doing this may be adopted in
aid of each other. 1. Heavy cannon on travelling carriages, which may be
moved to any point on the bank or beach most convenient for dislodging
the vessel. A sufficient number of these should be lent to each sea-port
town, and their militia trained to them. The executive is authorized to
do this; it has been done in a smaller degree, and will now be done more
competently.

2. Having cannon on floating batteries or boats, which may be so
stationed as to prevent a vessel entering the harbor, or force her
after entering to depart. There are about fifteen harbors in the United
States, which ought to be in a state of substantial defence. The whole
of these would require, according to the best opinions, two hundred
and forty gun-boats. Their cost was estimated by Captain Rogers at two
thousand dollars each; but we had better say four thousand dollars. The
whole would cost one million of dollars. But we should allow ourselves
ten years to complete it, unless circumstances should force it sooner.
There are three situations in which the gun-boat may be. 1. Hauled up
under a shed, in readiness to be launched and manned by the seamen and
militia of the town on short notice. In this situation she costs nothing
but an enclosure, or a centinel to see that no mischief is done to her.
2. Afloat, and with men enough to navigate her in harbor and take care
of her, but depending on receiving her crew from the town on short
warning. In this situation, her annual expense is about two thousand
dollars, as by an official estimate at the end of this letter. 3. Fully
manned for action. Her a