Message #129108

[Chameleon]

The first and second editions of this pamphlet were published without the following calculations, which are now given as a proof that the above estimation of the navy is a just one. SEE ENTIC'S NAVAL HISTORY, INTRO. page 56.

  The charge of building a ship of each rate, and furnishing her with masts, yards, sails and rigging, together with a proportion of eight months boatswain's and carpenter's sea-stores, as calculated by Mr. Burchett, Secretary to the navy.

For a ship of a 100 guns
 35,553 £.
 
90
 29,886
 
80
 23,638
 
70
 17,785
 
60
 14,197
 
50
 10,606
 
40
 7,558
 
30
 5,846
 
20
 3,710
 

  And from hence it is easy to sum up the value, or cost rather, of the whole British navy, which in the year 1757, when it was as its greatest glory consisted of the following ships and guns.

SHIPS.
 GUNS.
 COST OF ONE.
 COST OF ALL.
 
6
 100
 35,553 £
 213,318 £
 
12
 90
 29,886
 358,632
 
12
 80
 23,638
 283,656
 
43
 70
 17,785
 746,755
 
35
 60
 14,197
 496,895
 
40
 50
 10,606
 424,240
 
45
 40
 7,558
 340,110
 
58
 20
 3,710
 215,180
 
85
 
 2,000
 170,000
 
 
 Sloops, bombs, and fireships, one with another, at Cost
 
 3,266,786
 
 
 Remains for guns
 
 233,214
 
 
 Total.
 
 3,500,000
 

  No country on the globe is so happily situated, so internally capable of raising a fleet as America. Tar, timber, iron, and cordage are her natural produce. We need go abroad for nothing. Whereas the Dutch, who make large profits by hiring out their ships of war to the Spaniards and Portuguese, are obliged to import most of the materials they use. We ought to view the building a fleet as an article of commerce, it being the natural manufactory of this country. It is the best money we can lay out. A navy when finished is worth more than it cost. And is that nice point in national policy, in which commerce and protection are united. Let us build; if we want them not, we can sell; and by that means replace our paper currency with ready gold and silver.