Elizabeth Town Gazette

From a late English paper received at the office of the Franklin Gazette.

STATE OF THE AMERICAN NAVY
To the Editor of the Morning Chronicle.

Sir--So many reports are afloat concerning the rising Navy of America--that formidable opponent, with whom Great Britain will find it a difficult task to contend before half a century has passed away, that I shall feel obliged if you will permit me, through the medium of your paper, to state what that navy is at the present time, and what it will be in a few years. I have not been four months from America. At New-York, a line of battle ship and three frigates of forty-eight guns were lying: in Hampton Roads a three decker, flush fore and aft, without a poop, (that useless appendage, merely to provide the admiral a state cabin,) was at anchor, attended by two sloops of war, mounting 30 guns each. I visited the three decker, General Washington, and although

"Nurs'd on the wave and cradled in the storm,
prepared to defend the nautical abilities of my own country against the world; I was completely (to use the language familiar to common minds) "knocked on the head with astonishment." The decorations of an American line of battle ship's interior, are far superior to ours, the expenses being defrayed by the nation, and as to military equipments, they out rival us with a vengeance. Regular mechanics, bred to the trade, are employed to take care of the arms, every sword glitters in polished steel, and its edge is so fine, that but for its unwieldy size, you might shave with it. The tomahawks for boarding (and which are the best instruments that can be placed in the hands of a British sailor) are the finest metal, and peculiar in their make. All the guns run upon slides, which I consider a great improvement. In fact, Mr. Editor, (I have not time to enter into details,) the American ships of war are fitted out in superior style, and England, the mistress of the wave, will be obliged to take a lesson of instruction from them.

The Americans have now afloat nine ships of the line, seventeen frigates, and twelve sloops of war. All of those sloops of war mount thirty-four guns, and are a match for any of our smaller class of frigates.

On the stocks America has eleven sail of the line, most of them will be launched before another year has passed away, and there are frigates laid down in every port. It behoves us to watch with a careful eye the increasing maritime power of America. That country has already defied and defeated us in single combat--she will very soon encounter us with a whole fleet!

When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war.

Our noble lords presiding at the Admiralty board would do well to take a trip to America--but, alas! if they saw, they could not comprehend.

"Bray a fool in a mortar, he will never Be wise," said Solomon; he said true.

Can it be supposed that the Marquis of Waterford, Lieutenant of Dragoons, will be of any use as a lord of the Admiralty? His lordship, no doubt, is very eminent in his profession, as an Amateur Actor at the Tottenham street Theatre; and if his attendance at the admiralty was as constant as his attendance on Miss F-e at Covent Garden, he might do some service.

The time of the honourable secretaries, I apprehend, is too well employed; the first being chief ballad maker, and ballad singer at C--n House; and the second a kind of Pagoda-designer and embellisher of Parks. Neither of these gentlemen, I dare to say, turn a thought towards America. It was not until all our frigates who ventured to engage the Yankees were taken, that the Board and their Oracle found out American frigates were larger than our own.

The encouragement given to seamen in the American navy induces Englishmen to enter it. There is no flogging--Do degrading a man to the level of a beast. Human nature is estimated at its proper value--the noble minded cherished and rewarded.

My time, Mr. Editor, is short, but you shall hear from me soon. A navy is rising into existence that will soon dispute with Britain the empire of the ocean. I will raise my warning voice, and try to arouse the frog from his croaking gutter, and the idle labourer from his barrow. My country is dearer to me than existence; and I cannot behold our apathy at home, and the exertions of our active brethren across the Atlantic, without apprehension of the most fatal results. I am, truly and faithfully yours,

JOHN MITFORD.

Falcon-Square.