Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

Harbour Defence.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars of the people's money has been expended during the administrations of Jefferson and Madison in building and maintaining Gun-Boats. In time of Peace nine of these "ships of one Gun" were stationed in the harbor of Portland: and during the Embargo, employed in enforcing that sapient measure. But now, when the country is at war, and the town liable to an attack from the British Marine, even this defence, is taken away. Mr. Madison can build forts and ships of war with great promptness, on the lakes, but towns and harbors on the seacoast, whilst they are exposed to the fury of a powerful navy, are left, almost defenceless, to provide for themselves.

Last week, several companies of U. S. troops marched from this town, destination we understand, the lakes. Several teams have been hired for the transportation of beef &c. for the use of the troops. Seven dollars a hundred is given for the carriage of provisions, so that a barrel of beef, sent from this to Sacket's Harbor will cost the United States in the whole between 20 and 30 dollars. We are sensible that if armies are raised they must be fed, clothed, paid, at the same time the people have a right to enquire where is the necessity of these enormous expenses being thrown upon them.

We have no late advices from Europe, nor accounts of defeats on the frontier.

The account of the fifth naval victory achieved by our little navy must be highly gratifying to those who feel an interest in the honor of the Country. It affords an additional proof of the wisdom of that policy which marked the administrations of Washington and Adams, in creating a naval force: at the same time it shows the folly and weakness of the Gun Boat and Tarpaulin system so long pursued by Jefferson and Madison.