5746. NAVY, Bravery of.—[further continued].
I sincerely congratulate
you on the successes of our little navy; which
must be more gratifying to you than to most
men, as having been the early and constant
advocate of wooden walls. If I have differed
with you on this ground, it was not on the
principle, but the time; supposing that we
cannot build or maintain a navy, which will
not immediately fall into the gulf which has
swallowed not only the minor navies, but
even those of the great second-rate powers
of the sea. Whenever these can be resuscitated,
and brought so near to a balance with
England that we can turn the scale, then is
my epoch for aiming at a navy. In the meantime,
one competent to keep the Barbary
States in order, is necessary; these being the
only smaller powers disposed to quarrel with
us.—
To John Adams. Washington ed. vi, 122.
(M.
May. 1813)
