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Foreign News
September 4, 1818
Daily National Intelligencer
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
A letter in the Boston Patriot discusses British concerns over the growing US naval power, quoting a May 1818 Naval Chronicle article urging the British government to build larger frigates to match American ships and maintain naval superiority.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From the Boston Patriot.
Messrs. Editors: Several of our papers have lately taken notice of the jealousy with which Great Britain views the increase of our naval power. I was not, however, prepared to find it so extensive as it appears to be. In the Naval Chronicle for May and June this year, there are no less than nine articles, most of them of great length, on the subject of the increasing naval power of America. I have copied from the number for May the following article, which, though it does not display the apprehensions of the British on this subject as forcibly as some others, is more convenient, on account of its length, for our purpose.
"20TH APRIL, 1818.
"Mr. Editor—Whilst the desire to have a proportion of our navy made fit to cope successfully with that of America is so generally felt and expressed, I cannot but suppose government are also fully sensible of the necessity for accomplishing what will at once gratify the eager wishes of the nation, and add, as it will unquestionably do, to the naval power and security of the kingdom.
"That government is fully impressed with these sentiments appears pretty evident: and if its measures are duly persevered in, will soon accomplish all that is wanted, viz. to keep an eye on, and to keep full pace with (I should wish however to precede them) the active exertions of that rapidly advancing naval power.
Yet, why, I would ask, build so many common sized frigates, and so few as four only of a larger size, fit to contend with the Americans?—And why not give directions for making these ships of a sufficient length and strength to carry more and heavier guns in case of a war with America? If they should only be wanted for a French or any other war, 12 and 18 could be substituted for 26 pounders," &c.
Messrs. Editors: Several of our papers have lately taken notice of the jealousy with which Great Britain views the increase of our naval power. I was not, however, prepared to find it so extensive as it appears to be. In the Naval Chronicle for May and June this year, there are no less than nine articles, most of them of great length, on the subject of the increasing naval power of America. I have copied from the number for May the following article, which, though it does not display the apprehensions of the British on this subject as forcibly as some others, is more convenient, on account of its length, for our purpose.
"20TH APRIL, 1818.
"Mr. Editor—Whilst the desire to have a proportion of our navy made fit to cope successfully with that of America is so generally felt and expressed, I cannot but suppose government are also fully sensible of the necessity for accomplishing what will at once gratify the eager wishes of the nation, and add, as it will unquestionably do, to the naval power and security of the kingdom.
"That government is fully impressed with these sentiments appears pretty evident: and if its measures are duly persevered in, will soon accomplish all that is wanted, viz. to keep an eye on, and to keep full pace with (I should wish however to precede them) the active exertions of that rapidly advancing naval power.
Yet, why, I would ask, build so many common sized frigates, and so few as four only of a larger size, fit to contend with the Americans?—And why not give directions for making these ships of a sufficient length and strength to carry more and heavier guns in case of a war with America? If they should only be wanted for a French or any other war, 12 and 18 could be substituted for 26 pounders," &c.
What sub-type of article is it?
Naval Affairs
What keywords are associated?
British Navy
American Naval Power
Frigates
Naval Chronicle
Where did it happen?
Great Britain
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Great Britain
Event Date
20th April 1818
Event Details
A letter to the editor in the Naval Chronicle expresses British desire to enhance their navy to match the growing American naval power, questioning the construction of only four larger frigates capable of contending with American ships and suggesting they be built to carry heavier guns for potential war with America.