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FORTIFICATIONS.
PLAN
• .'OF COL. JONATHAN WILLIAMS, EOS.
¦ fsrtifywg the Narrows,
Tlctween L rig arid St-iten Islands.
'o v el ah Strong. Esq. Chairman of "he Com-
rniitee of the Corporation of New-York.
.Fort Columbus, July 29, 1807.
I have received your Favor of yesterday,
inclosing; a resolution of the corporation da-
ted the 27th instant, requesting me to " fur-
nish with all possible dispatch a plan for
fortifying the Narrows, with an estimate of
the probable expence."
Although my official station will not per-
mit me to enter into any enga ements re-
specting plans of defence, without the-au-
thority of the government of the U. Slates, »»ch danger ? Doubtless to attack more vnl-
these conditions they have been, and ever
; will be formidable. Fifty gun-boats scatter-
ii g the flats on each side of the chan-
nel, xvould ail of them -attack, an advancing
ship forward the fore chains, and if she pass-
ed the nearest pair, they might slip their ca-
.bles and keep in her wake ; all this time the
advancing ship, instead of escaping, would
be just coming into a still -more prompt,
pn-.v;:iful.and intersecting fire, during which
she could not attack more than the boat on
each side, while all the others would rake
¦her fore and aft.
But the certainty of passage is the great
objection, for it seems to be in the opinion
of the world almost a settled axiom, that
ships will pass battery, in spite of all their
force—Why would they pass them ? There
must surely be a strong motive to encounter
yet I shall with the utmost freedom commu-
nicate to you, and through yon to the cor-
poration, every idea that can in my mind
relate to a permanent'and effectual defence
against a maritime force ; leaving the exe-
cution of the plans, and the means of rais-
ing the necessary supplies, to their good
judgment and. patriotic zeal. In stating
the principles upon which as perfect a de-
fence as the nature v,f the case requires,
should be founded, I must necessarily in-
.¦elude those which influenced the c-dcrs I
am now acting under ; and believing as I
'do that to form a correct judgment of the
whole the adopted plan should be kno.'.n,
as well as the reasons for its adoption, I
.shall go into some detarJ. which (however
irrelevant in appearance) is too much con-
nected with your object, and too depend-
ent upon it, to be omitted, consistent with
a due regard to perspicuity.
In the late conference between the vice-
president of the United States, the secretary
of war, and myself, there has been but one
santiment respecting the mode of applying
the means in our power, with the best ef-
fect ; but.'nothing has been said against a
defence at the Narrows, provided we had
equivalent funds to depend upon.; yet it has
been uniformly a fettled • pinion, that a de-
fenqc of the Narrows only, would be putting
all upon one, stake and probably wasting the
Zealous and laudable efforts of our ciiizenc
•without affording them more than a mo-
mentary and perhaps, an ideal-security.
The propriety of a defence at the Nar
rows, -in conjuRction with an interior force,
is in a striking manner indicated, by the
introductory words ot my orders : •' It be-
ing the intention of "the general govern-
ment so to fortify the harbor of'N. York, as
will ( if h the aid of gvm-uoats) afford a rea-
sonable security to the citizens and their
property, agaiiist ships of war, unaccompa
Tin. d with any f .r-r.-.idable armament, Such as
can only be opposed, by a superior army ;
the following system has been deemed most
expedient at present, with such additions
hereafter as cay be thought adviscubie, fur-
thcr in advance."
The Narrow's offer a passage of more
.Mian twelve hundred yards in witlth for any
ship that BouUI come over the bar at Sandv
Hook—now, every sailor knows that a do-
zen ships of the line could upon an emer-
gency, sail abreast through that passage,
with fir wind and fide, and allowing >ne
on. each side to be destroyed, ten might,
surely pass unhurt in as many minutes, and if
there were nothing to encounter afterwards,
they would indemnify their losses by the
contributions they would exact from the ci-
ty ; hence an inefectual defence at. the Nar-
rows would only serve to increase these
contributions.
Seeing therefore the magnitude of this
object, and comparing it with the means
provided; also considering the confidence
placed in their judgment, the above named
officers naturally reverted to a very plain
principle which comes home to all our do-
mestic feelings ; let us secure our house first,
and then according to our ability, defend
our court yard.
In looking around, it was perceived that
the prominent rocks on Governor's Island
the point of the bastion of the old city bat-
tery, and Ellis's Island, forming nearly an
equilateral triangle ; and that the centre of
this, offered an intersecting point, which at
the greatest distance from each, would only
be about one thousand yards, while it would
he difficult to go into either the North or
East river, without passing within point
blank shot (or between, lour or five hun-
dred yards) of same of them. It was also
seen that former administrations before, and
since the revolution, sohighly valued these
•points, -that fortifications have been, erected
upon, or near every one, although, time, the
great destroyer of' all things, has obli-
terated some of them. It.was further con-
sidered that the modern improvements of
-marine batteries, which give double the
I number of .guns on the same horizontal
'base, and by multiplying the tiers may give
fix timesthe number of the heaviest metal
nith abomb proof security above, rendered
he question of combat, a question offloat-
ng wooden walls, against impregnable
'one walls on shore, with equal.power as to
elc rily of action, number of guns within
'he eame space, and weight of metal.
It is not a very bold assertion, to say that
ship that sails on the ocean, would en-
igc on such terms.
In combining all these circumstances it
ms a matter of great consideration, and of
Jhe most coiwoling confidence, to reflect
Vhat we should be aided by gun boats, com-
mandrd by brave and experienced officers.
iNo man of professional knowledge has
thitherto ventured an opinion ^gainst
the efiicacy of gunboats in harbor,
in shoal wetef, and on a smooth surface ; no
one ot ti:eseconditions have been intended
to whenever they have feiitj, <• ' with
/
nerable points. And this is precisely the
reason, they would pass the Narrows.to at-
tack the defenceless city of New-York ; as
admiral Duckworth passed the Dardanelles
to attack Constantinople, and certainly if
there had been no interior defence, the ca-
pital of the Sublime Porte would have been
reduced.
But merely passing the city, cannot be an
important object, for to put it under contri-
bution, ships -must lie there, either at an-
chor, or with the main topsail to the mast.;
now that (when the proposed batteries shall
be completed) cannot be done- and we do
not find that it.is generally thought advan-
tageous to run the gauntlet, .forthe purpose
of running it back again.
Before.I close this part -of my subject
permit me to notice an objection to 11
batteries .which seems to have made scin.;
impression on the molds'of the citi-,
zens—'• It brings the battle h,me to our.doors,
within the cries of our wwes and ehxldr-nV
Will any reflecting moid, hot under the ex--
-citement of passion, believe this to be-the
fact ? Do invading enemies seek to attack
powerful batteries, instead of making de-
predations where tlvre are none ? Will a
shoie lined with cannon, be.more.inviting
to a warlike plunderer, than a shore lined
with rich .freighted merchantmen, and de-
fenceless, well filled stores ? I leave the
answer to the dictates of a plain but sound
understanding, and as *e live in the days
of rapacity, rather than in the days of chi-
valry, I cannot doubt what that answer will
be.
I beg pardon for this encroachment on
your patience previously to answering your
main object in the application to rae'j but
the deference and respeel I one to the high
characters with whom I have lately been in
.conference impose this explanation as an in-
dispensable duty : especially, as going at
once into a plan, whisn they'jnight besnp-
p sed to have omitted, would on my part
be a very indecorous presumpti m.
. I now come to the quesMou implied in
the resolution of your board ; " Are the
Narrows " defensible, ? If so, what are the
.-means, and " what the probable expence ?"
To .tins r'answer. .hey are in my opinion
defensible, but the raiaiis are. extensive,
~and should unite .submarine obstructions,
forts on each side, and gun boats on the ¦¦
flats in advance.
Wit.'. resjrect to the si'.King an.island in
tin. ceP.ie, winch has been much spoken ot',
it does not appear to me that local circurri
stances have been fully considered. In .the
middle of the Narroyys there are betyveen
sixteeri and seventeen fathoms of water, say
one hundred feet at half tide ; to make an
island of stem in this depth, -with an aria
of four acres at its surface, as I have heard
mentioned, even if the sides were vertical,
which could not be, would he moie loan
seventeen millions of cubical would require, that of meeting
the en'my iti.tlle friil.
Deeply, impressed with the importance
of the pr,(-ien't.crisis, and knowing ho •- anx
ious ti.e 'public wiiid at present is, I have
thought it be.,! to give a prompt answer to
your request, though from the nature of the.
case, it must be a very imperfect one ; and
were I very thirsty for proiessi nil fame, it
might be considered imprudent, tnus to lay
niyseh open to criticism, on a subject where
there are so many opinions, with much
confidence in the validity of each one.
¦I make no pretensions to infallibility up-
on any subject, and shall listen with com-
pbceiicy to any opinion on this one, from
ai 1 quarter ; but while I respect the senti-
.". ints of others, I hope I may rely on some
iigence tor my own.
Should it be in my power to give the cor-
poration any further information, I shall at
all times most readily do it, upon the slight-
est requisition on their part : without any
other view than the satisfaction resulting
from the. reflection of having rendered an
acceptable service to the citizens of New-
York.
I have the honor to.be,
Very respectfully, Sirr,
Your most obedient
And most -humble servant,
JONATHAN WILLIAMS.
who informed -that, they Iwd-,captured'-ant]-i - Sailed-from Monlepto Bay, brig Maris,
sent into the Downs,,.the ,bar.g?.ie.JEdward ,,H.nssey, for New-York ; and schr. Mary,
and Henry, Webber, of Gloucester, bound-, for Baltimore. - ;v
At Savannah-La-Mar, schr. Venusy
Jeffries, from New-York.
BY THIS DAY'S MAILS.
BOSTON, August i.
Arrived, brig Exert, Kinsman, from Lou-
don, : 48 days from, the- land. Left, ship
Shepherdess, Doane, for N. York in three
days ; brig Helen, Eoster, of Boston, load-
ing for Philadelphia ; and several others,
names unknown.
Spoke, June i^, in the English Chan-
nel, ship Thomas Gordon, Croswell, from
Portsmouth, N. H. for Rotterdam, 31 days
out.
Ship Superb, Lombard, River de la Plata,
64 days. In laf. 17, S. long. 31, W. saw
a fleet of 6 sail of English ships, consisting
of one frigate, four-transports, and one gun-
brig, having on board about one thousand
TROOPS, destined to act against Busnos
Ayres. On Saturday, 25th ult. off George's-,¦
spoke.a ship from New-London, for Belle-
Isle.
Brig Three Thomas's, Eoster, of Kings-
ton, Amsterdam, 62 days. There were a
number of vessels at New Diep, names un-
known. The ship AmsterdamPacket, War-
rington, of Philadelphia, sailed for . Bor-
deaux, in ballast, and was sent back by the
English, not permitted to proceed. June
5, capt. F. was boarded from a,gun-brig,
which had captured the schr. Charles, of
Boston, the day before, and sent her info
England. June 7, was brought to and
boarded from the British brig Challenge,
to Rotterdam.. Spoke, June 2-., Lit. 43,
32,. long. -29. 35, ship Atlantic, Turner,_
from Charleston, for Bordeaux, .30 days oat.
July 15, ship Eleonora, Tab.er, of Provi-
dence, from Baltimore, for Tpnningen, 15
days out.
Brig Jane, Clippen, Newfoundland, 20
days ;' schr. Three Sisters, Rider, do.. 22.
Schr. Farnier, Cloutman, Havana, via
quarantine.
¦ .it quarantine, brig Henry, M'Lellan, Gua-
daioupe, via Portland ; brig Harriot, May,
''Tohago, 23 days.
Captain Way left, July 8, brig Equator,
¦Miller, of Kennebunk, for Boston, to sail in
3 days ; brig Fame, Gould, for do. 6 ; brig
Paulina, Fernald, of and for Portsmouth)
..just arrived; schr. Chance, Wallis, of New-
Haven, uncertain ; schr. Caroline, of Norfolk,
just arrived. Sp.dce. July SO. Shoal of
Georges hearing S. W. distant 8 leagues,
brig tinterprize, Woodbury, from Halifax,
for Salem.
Alio, brig Sally..Mills Havanna, 13 days.
The Sally left at 'he ll.ivanna, July 20, ships
Columbine^ Games, for Boston in 19 days ;
Sally, Stirtsoiv, do. 15 ;* Sally. Rich, do. 25 ;
Vi rd.int, Hrown do. 10 ; bri.< Traveller, Gor-
lr„ai. do (i : Sdi*S \fary. 'Pool, do. 15 ; Ca
r 'line. Paitri-l-r/j do. 2 : L- ander, Brown,doi
.3 or 4 : Wilmot, Bice, do. 4 ; Miudwell,
Brush, Philadelphia, 5 ; bri;r, Hannah, Snow,
do. 6 ; schr. Four.Sisters, Beverly, 3 ; brig
'Welcome Return. Edwards, S.ihj n, 1.5 ; Ar-
gus. Thayer, of Pro'idence, for New-York,
,6 ; ship' Charlotte, of Boston Stoddert, Phi-
ladelphia. iS ; brig William, King, from Bos-
ton, just arrived; Fox New-Orleans, 4.
Cleared, brig Dearborn, Macy, Bay of
Biscay.
FROM HALIFAX;
. American gentlemen recently from Hali-
fax, state, that the affair between the Leo-
pard and Chesapeake, is differently repre-
sented there to what it has been in the
United States—Admiral Berkley has alledg-
e.A in writting, that" His orders were not issu-
ed until every applications restore the mu-
tineers and deserters had been made by his
Britannic majesty's minister, -consul, and
officer, arid had been refused by the govern-
ment of the United States." He added,
that " though the captain of the American
frigate positively asserted, that no deserters
composed a part of tire cre^, the officer en-
listed them avowedly as such, and was one
of his lieutenants. The men were after-
wards actually found on board the frigate."
One of the. killed on board the Chesaprake
was said to be a warrant officer of the Bri-
tish ship Chichester, who. had been in-
veigled from his duty.
[_Boston Pal.2
NEW-YORK, ugtiste.
Military Parade.—The first and second
regiments of artillery 'had a'JklblHiiy.yes-
terday : the troops vyere a-.j.-ri'iled at ail early
hour, anrl the line forme-.! o 1 the battery at
half past eight o'clock'. ,1 federal salute
announced the approach of-his exc, ller.cy
the: GoVernor and the Vice-President of the
United States. Th-\y were at ended by ma j.
gen.Steveu.s',r:6l, Itiyingston, bis excellency's
i'l, commodore Risers and captain Cliaun-
oey, of the navy, captain Wylie, cf the
United -States artillery, &c. &ci After the
review, the troops Went through a variety
of evolutions and firings.
Captain Abeel informs, that the British
frigate Mediator, with one. million of dolls,
had just arrived at Jamaica .from La .Vera
Cruz. And, that the frigate Diana, captain
Mailing, from England, had also arrjved.and
proceeded for La Vera Cruz, having on
board the son of sir Frances Baring, of
London.
Arrived, the brig Neptune, Abeel, "92
days from Kingston, (Jam.) Sailed irj.. co.
brig Amazon, for Alexandria, and saw her
on Tuesday ¦ An embargo was daily ex-
pected at Jamaica, till another fleet had sail-
ed. [See extracts from Jamaica papers.]
The brig Emily, Richards, i4.days from
St.Pierres, (Mart.) Left, the schr. Pearl,
Forbes, and brig Jane, Johnson, both for
New-York. The brig Mary-Ann, Lawson,
arrived from New-York, 2 or'8 days before
captain R. sailed. On Monday last, in lat:
36, long. 73, spoke a Swedish ship 74 days
from St. Ubes for Charleston.
The schr. Jane, Barlow, 18 days from St.
Jago-de-Cuba. Left schr. Minerva, of $.as..astanishing.,.aa.it. ...
was unexpected, during the dark years -
which intervened b.iween '1776 and 1783 ;
the canvass of Lei- ships has been spread be- '
fore the winds of every clime-.-tlie waves
of the brincy de -.. > e '.pener! theirii'-.isurcs -
•to her haidy so s— A.;a, Alrica, ami- Eu- .
rope have been tributaries to the. enterprise
ot out merchants, while our forests+.iov'ing
with/he strokes of the carpenter, have, afe' ¦'
by magie-k, b'eetu rmedintoships whichbes-
pof the b'somol every sea, laden withthepro-
duce of our soil ; .the good sale of which has.
made the labourer sing, at the approach of
Harvest. And 0:1 the farms of the
land holder, where once stood the log
cottage and-slender barracks are now ex-
hibited .to the passenger, lukuriant di'elds, '
handsome dwellings and substantial barns. "'
Towns have gr • 11 into ciiies, and where
not 1, nt; since washeaid the rude lays of the
¦ lVi.'pOyM/"iU and the croaking of the raven,,
stand handsome.towns, as markets for the '¦
sale of the valuable products-of lands but a ''
few years past covered "with impenetrable,
forests or neglected as bogs. The Media- ,
nic has also, enjoyed his,, full proportion of
the common blessings of his felLw citizens, -
-.and many who at their first start in life ex-
pected nothing else but in one dull routine te>-' ;
spend their days over the Work bench, the'
lapstone or anvil, have retired with fortunes
which place them in ease for life, and their ' „.
children in the most eligible situation.
The scientific man- has with pleasure . seenr «
the stately edifice rise ,on th©;..e very spotsr •
where the necromancers of the Aborigines '- '•"
have by their superstition given .a keener
edge to savage cruelty, and on which, now*
are taught those refined and elegant sciences
which cnoble the'soul of man, and expand
theinind to measure the summit of the Hea-
vens, while it encircles the earth as with a
chain.—And next to the manifestations of
a kind Providence, to what shall vie attri-
bute thoss unknown blessings ?¦ I call tftenv
unknown, for. when robbed of'them it is
then, and only then, that we shall. justly ..
appreciate their value.... It is to peace, be-
nign peace, that we o«vp these enjoyments-; . «
wc have eaten the finest of the-, wheat •_ .
—our garments have been goodly—are we .
then to loose these blessings by war ? .
To ascend is difficult, but to tumble wilh a
hasty fall is more hard. Are the advanta-
ges of 24 years to be buried in tl „ ' se of. ..
one ? Are the ships which cost our labew.
and our money, to lay worm-eaten in onr
Lynhaven ; saw no other British ships of rivers, or to be wrested from us by an in-
war. "The frigate Chesapeake, and French I sidiou's foe, whose eye is jaundiced wifh out
frigate Cybelle, lay at Crany island, ready I prosperity, and' cannot bear to behold ene
for sea. increasing commerce; a foe that would
Cleared, brig Actress, Puntine, Guada- | gladly seduce us into war, that we might-
loupe. 1 lose the advantage of that commerce. . Am
The Swedish ship Ann and Hannah,
from St. Bartholomvves for !\ew-York, has
arrived at Martha's Vineyard.
[Per the Neptune.]]
Kingston Jnly 11.—Arrived schr. Expe-
riment, Dickson, from Norfolk, Two Sis-
ters, Tew,M. Carolina.—Cleared for de-
parture, brigs Generous Friend, Heard, for
New-York ; John, Martin, Alexandria ;
Columbia, Livering, do. ; Gen. Eaton,
Graves, Philadelphia ; Amy, Davis, R.
Island ; schr. Planter, Bell, Beaufort.
Sailed, brig Eliza Kitchen- Philad. ;
Hope, Hunt, New-York ; schr. Active,
Given, Charleston.
The American schr. Charming Betsy,
Miller, from Curracoa for Norfolk, arrived
on Vv'ednesday, havi;,, been plundered at
Samaiia'by a French privateer,
At St. Anns, schr, Charlotte, Cadwell,
front NesY?Y«k.
the fields of the farmer to be covered with)
briers and thorns, because, discouraged fos
want of a price, he will no longer drive the,
plough-share ? Are , the tools of the me-
chanic to rest upon his work-bench ?'Are
thousands who now live in ease', to be
plunged in the depths of ruin ? Is the eye
of philanthropy again to weep on these
shores over our murdered brethren,, the
heart-broken widow, and the destitute or-
phan. May a kind heaven prevent calami-
ties so much to be deprecated, aiid enable,
us honorably to end the presemt strife, with-
out an appeal to the sword, 'tt
CATO. ;}
NOP FOLK, August 4.
Last evening on parade, general .orders,
were read to the militia and volunteer com-
panies, when ail, except capt. Taylor's com-
pany of cavalry, capt. NestciU's artillery, ang.
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