Gazette Of The United States

FROM THE SAME.

THE FEDERAL SHIP

Is now ready for sea, let us therefore proceed on our voyage without further delay, and with the help of able navigators we may expect ere long, to establish a due confidence at home and abroad, and to reap the rich fruits of an extensive commerce and credit: If we should want to borrow, there will not be wanting those who will lend, when there is a fair prospect of being repaid.

And as it is impossible to ascertain, before our ship is afloat, whether she will sail exactly upon an even keel, it is palpably absurd to keep her longer in dock, through fear that she may possibly have a list to port, or starboard. We have, alas! lost many of our best and ablest hands, who for want of employ at home, are gone into foreign service: The French and English exult in the acquisition, and as it strengthens them, and weakens us, the policy of nations cannot point out two stronger motives to give them all possible encouragement: There are many more who will soon be obliged to follow them, urged by the same distresses, unless we can speedily find employment for them: This may be considered not only a great, but an irreparable loss, as they are such men, as cannot be replaced. Let us therefore seriously reflect, before it be too late, that though our Ship may not be quite so perfect as she might possibly have been constructed, yet there appears no defects, but what may be mended on the voyage; but by keeping her too long out of employ, we may become so exhausted, and impoverished, that we may at last find ourselves unable to fit her out, and shall then be driven to the hard necessity either to CHARTER her, or let her perish by the walls.

Tacitus says: Nihil in discordiis civilibus festinatione tutius, ubi facto magis quam consulto opus est. And again: Nullus cunctationi locus est in eo consilio, quod non potest laudari nisi peractum. Nec cunctatione opus, ubi perniciosior est quies, quam temeritas.

E. C.