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On that element it is necessary we slionld possess some 

 power. To aim at such a navy as tlie greater nations 

 of Europe possess, wouhl be a fooiisi) juid wicked waste 

 of the energies of our countrymen. It would be to j)ull 

 on our own heads that load of military expenvse which 

 makes the European labourer go sui)pcrless to bed,and 

 moistens his bread with the sweat of his brows. It 

 will be enough if we enable ourselves to prevent insults 

 from those nations of Europe which are weak on the 

 sea, because circumstances exist, which render even 

 the stronger ones weak as to us. Providejice has placed 

 their richest and most defenceless possessions at our 

 door ; has obliged their most precious commerce to 

 pass, as it were, in review before us. To protect this, 

 or to assail, a small part only of their naval force will 

 even V)e risqued across the Atlantic. The dangers to 

 which the elements expose thesn here are too well 

 known, and the greater dangers to which they would 

 be exposed at home were any general calamity to in- 

 volve their whole fleet. Thev can attack us by detach- 

 ment only; and it will suffice to make ourselves equal 

 to what they may detacb. Even a smaller force than 

 they may detach will be rendered equal or superior by 

 the quickness with which any check may be repaired 

 with us, while losses with thenj will be irreparable till 

 too late. A small naval force then is sufficient for us, 

 and a small one is necessary. What this should be, I 

 will not undertake to say. I will only say, it should by 

 no means be so great as we are able to make it. Sup- 

 pose the million of dollars, or 300,000 pounds, which 

 Virginia could annually s[)are without distress, to be 

 applied to the creating a navy, A single year's contri- 

 bution would build, equip, man, and send to sea a force 

 which should carry 300 guns. The rest of the confed- 

 eracy, exerting themselves in the same proportion, 

 would equip in the same time 1500 guns more. So that 

 one year's contribution would set up a navy of 1800 

 guns. The British ships of the line average 76 guns ; 

 their frigates 3S. — 1800 guns then would form a fleet of 

 30 ships, 18 of which might be of the line, and Ifsi fri- 



