The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

FROM THE BOSTON SENTINEL.

We have noticed the republication in several of the Boston papers of the following paragraph, extracted from a Newport paper: —

'By an estimate from actual survey, under proper authority, we learn that there is now standing in the state of Rhode-Island, suitable timber sufficient to build upwards of two thousand line of battle ships.'

To those who are acquainted with the subject, the absurdity and extravagance of such a statement must appear evident, and had it originally appeared in any other than a Newport paper we should have supposed it was meant as a burlesque on that State. As it is we must believe, either that the Newport Editor has been grossly imposed on and taken it upon trust, or that he has hazarded an assertion, supposing there were none who would detect the misrepresentation. The State of Rhode-Island contains about 1580 square miles, or rather more than one million acres, including water. It is well known how inconsiderable a part of any territory produces oak timber, how small a proportion of the standing timber is suitable for naval purposes generally, and the still less proportion that will answer for line of battle ships. If the State of Rhode-Island were an entire forest of oak, it would hardly yield sufficient timber to build two thousand line of battle ships.

The author states his information to have been derived from an estimate by actual survey under proper authority, and it is this part of the paragraph alone which could entitle it to a moment's consideration. One would think an Editor would hardly dare trifle with the public credulity, by circulating a falsehood on so important a subject. Is it then a fact?—What proper authority has ordered a survey to ascertain the quantity of timber in the State of Rhode-Island suitable for building line of battle ships, and who were appointed for that purpose? We believe there has been no survey with any reference to the subject, except such as might have arisen incidentally from the examination of the waters and points of defence of that State by the Commissioners appointed to select the best site for a naval depot; and we have too much confidence in the judgment and veracity of those gentlemen to believe, they could authorize such a statement. We think there must have been a typographical error in the Newport paragraph, and that 'thousands' was added by mistake to the word 'two;' so altered, however, there is doubt if it would be correct, for we believe it would be difficult to find a stick of timber in all Rhode-Island that would answer for one of the keel pieces of a seventy-four.

The navy of Great-Britain, at its most flourishing period, in 1809, amounted to about 800,000 tons; not more however than half was considered effective. By a report made to Parliament, the quantity necessary to build and repair, so as to keep the establishment full, was estimated at thirty-two thousand tons per year. In addition to her home resources, she drew subsidies from Canada, and substituted the teak wood of India, yet apprehensions were entertained that this inconsiderable quantity could not be procured. The State of Rhode-Island, however, only about one quarter part as large as the principality of Wales, and not a seventieth part the size of Great-Britain, can furnish upwards of nine millions tons of timber suitable for line of battle ships! How came it that the United States' brig Chippeta, about 300 tons burthen, built at Warren, a place considered the most favourably situated in Rhode-Island for building vessels, was obliged to take a chestnut bowsprit, and have her masts made in Boston, and transported to Warren?

It is amusing to observe the extravagant opinions which are broached on subjects of this kind; but to those who give authority for such statements, and who have no correct idea of the quantity of timber it requires for a ship of the line, we recommend the perusal of an able report on the subject, made to a Committee of the British Parliament in the year 1792.

A. B.