Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

Our Boats. Of these ridiculous engines, I could never form a very accurate idea, until I had an opportunity, the other day, of seeing seventeen of them drawn up in grand array before the battery of New York, for the purpose of joining on the celebration of the evacuation of that city by the British troops. The President has never failed when speaking of the gun boats, to dwell particularly on the facility of their movements: with how much truth the reader may judge, when he is informed, that on the above mentioned occasion, the boats were in motion from an early hour in the morning until twelve o'clock, during which time the crews were laboriously employed, by rowing, &c. in attempting to form a line. The commander's boat from her almost innumerable party-colored flag, resembling a butterfly more than a Wasp or a Hornet, excited the admiration of the sweeps and little children; while the rest of the squadron affords sport for the crowds of foreigners who assembled on the occasion. "Begar!" cried a little Frenchman, sneering and shrugging up his shoulders-"America soon be Emperor of de sea, wid her gran navy!"-Balance.