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20 … … 3；710
And from hence it is easy to sum up the value； or cost rather； of
the whole British navy； which in the year 1757； when it was
at its greatest glory consisted of the following ships and guns：
Ships。 Guns。 Cost of one。 Cost of all
6 … 100 … 35；553 … 213；318
12 … 90 … 29；886 … 358；632
12 … 80 … 23；638 … 283；656
43 … 70 … 17；785 … 764；755
35 … 60 … 14；197 … 496；895
40 … 50 … 10；606 … 424；240
45 … 40 … 7；558 … 340；110
58 … 20 … 3；710 … 215；180
85 Sloops； bombs；
and fireships； one 2；000 170；000
with another； _________
Cost 3；266；786
Remains for guns； _________ 233；214
_________
3；500；000
No country on the globe is so happily situated； or so internally capable
of raising a fleet as America。 Tar； timber； iron； and cordage are her
natural produce。 We need go abroad for nothing。 Whereas the Dutch；
who make large profits by hiring out their ships of war to the Spaniards
and Portuguese； are obliged to import most of their materials they use。
We ought to view the building a fleet as an article of commerce； it being
the natural manufactory of this country。 It is the best money we can lay out。
A navy when finished is worth more than it cost。 And is that nice point
in national policy； in which commerce and protection are united。 Let us build；
if we want them not； we can sell； and by that means replace our paper currency
with ready gold and silver。
In point of manning a fleet； people in general run into great errors；
it is not necessary that one fourth part should he sailors。
The Terrible privateer； Captain Death； stood the hottest engagement
of any ship last war； yet had not twenty sailors on board；
though her complement of men was upwards of two hundred。
A few able and social sailors will soon instruct a sufficient number
of active landmen in the common work of a ship。 Wherefore； we never
can be more capable to begin on maritime matters than now；
while our timber is standing； our fisheries blocked up；
and our sailors and shipwrights out of employ。 Men of war of seventy
and eighty guns were built forty years ago in New…England；
and why not the same now？ Ship…building is America's greatest pride；
and in which she will in time excel the whole world。
The great empires of the east are mostly inland；
and consequently excluded from the possibility of rivalling her。
Africa is in a state of barbarism； and no power in Europe hath either
such an extent of coast； or such an internal supply of materials。
Where nature hath given the one； she has withheld the other；
to America only hath she been liberal of both。 The vast empire of Russia
is almost shut out from the sea： wherefore； her boundless forests； her tar；
iron； and cordage are only articles of commerce。
In point of safety； ought we to be without a fleet？ We are not the
little people now； which we were sixty years ago； at that time we might
have trusted our property in the streets； or fields rather； and slept
securely without locks or bolts to our doors or windows。 The case now
is altered； and our methods of defense ought to improve with our increase
of property。 A common pirate； twelve months ago； might have come up
the Delaware； and laid the city of Philadelphia under instant contribution；
for what sum he pleased； and the same might have happened to other places。
Nay； any daring fellow； in a brig of fourteen or sixteen guns might have
robbed the whole continent； and carried off half a million of money。
These are circumstances which demand our attention； and point out
the necessity of naval protection。
Some； perhaps； will say； that after we have made it up Britain；
she will protect us。 Can we be so unwise as to mean；
that she shall keep a navy in our harbours for that purpose？
Common sense will tell us； that the power which hath endeavoured
to subdue us； is of all others the most improper to defend us。
Conquest may be effected under the pretence of friendship；
and ourselves after a long and brave resistance； be at last cheated
into slavery。 And if her ships are not to be admitted into our harbours；
I would ask； how is she to protect us？ A navy three or four thousand miles
off can be of little use； and on sudden emergencies； none at all。
Wherefore； if we must hereafter protect ourselves； why not do it for ourselves？
The English list of ships of war； is long and formidable； but not
a tenth part of them are at any one time fit for service； numbers of them
not in being； yet their names are pompously continued in the list；
f only a plank be left of the ship： and not a fifth part of such as are
fit for service； can be spared on any one station at one time。
The East and West Indies； Mediterranean； Africa； and other parts
over which Britain extends her claim； make large demands upon her navy。
From a mixture of prejudice and inattention； we have contracted a false
notion respecting the navy of England； and have talked as if we should
have the whole of it to encounter at once； and for that reason； supposed；
that we must have one as large； which not being instantly practicable；
have been made use of by a set of disguised Tories to discourage
our beginning thereon。 Nothing can be farther from truth than this；
for if America had only a twentieth part of the naval force of Britain；
she would be by far an overmatch for her； because； as we neither have；
nor claim any foreign dominion； our whole force would be employed on
our own coast； where we should； in the long run； have two to one the advantage
of those who had three or four thousand miles to sail over；
before they could attack us； and the same distance to return
in order to refit and recruit。 And although Britain； by her fleet；
hath a check over our trade to Europe； we have as large a one over her trade
to the West Indies； which； by laying in the neighbourhood of the continent；
is entirely at its mercy。
Some method might be fallen on to keep up a naval force in time of peace；
if we should not judge it necessary to support a constant navy。
If premiums were to be given to merchants； to build and employ in their
service ships mounted with twenty； thirty； forty or fifty guns；
（the premiums to be in proportion to the loss of bulk to the merchants）
fifty or sixty of those ships； with a few guardships on constant duty；
would keep up a sufficient navy； and that without burdening ourselves
with the evil so loudly complained of in England； of suffering their fleet；
in time of peace to lie rotting in the docks。 To unite the sinews
of