party, and I was a decided partisan of paper. Now, it is well known, that a regular argumentation on paper and metal money, unless abruptly terminated by a quarrel or a duel,—to say nothing of disturbing all around us with our noise,—seldom, on a moderate calculation, abates in its violence in less than two hours and a half. But I wished to retire to bed early, and therefore I did not offer battle.
My bed-room was just under a perpendicular cliff of chalk, say, from ISO to 200 feet high. Suppose now, thought I to myself, this cliff should tumble down in the night. However, thought I to myself again, this perpendicular cliff has stood during the nights of several thousand years, and why should it, of all nights, fall down on the very night that I sleep at Dover? And sleep there I did, and very soundly too. In three minutes I was unconscious of existence, and dreamt neither of Jews changing money for mere amusement, metal nor paper, bullion committees, nor yet perpendicular cliffs of chalk.
And now, sir, with your permission, I shall postpone my invasion of France till next month.
ACCOUNT OF THE AMERICAN STEAM FRIGATE.
MR EDITOR,
As the following account of the steam frigate lately built in America, has, so far as I know, not yet been published in this country, I have taken the liberty of transmitting it for your Magazine. It was communicated to me some time ago by Samuel L. Mitchill, M.D.F.R.S.E. of New York, one of the commissioners who superintended its construction. I am, Sir, yours, &c. D. Brewster.
New York, December 28, 1815.
Sir,—The war which was terminated by the treaty of Ghent, afforded, during its short continuance, a glorious display of the valour of the United States by land and by sea—it made them better known to foreign nations, and, what is of much greater importance, it contributed to make them better acquainted with themselves—it excited new enterprises—it educed latent talents—it stimulated to exertions unknown to our people before.
A long extent of coast was exposed to an enemy, powerful above every other on the ocean. His commanders threatened to lay waste our country with fire and sword, and, actually, in various instances^ carried their menaces into execution. It became necessary, for our defence, to resist, by every practicable method, such a formidable foe.
It was conceived, by a most ingenious and enterprising citizen, that the power of steam could be employed to propel a floating battery, carrying heavy guns, to the destruction of any hostile force that should hover on the shores, or enter the ports of our Atlantic frontier. The perfect and admirable success of his project, for moving boats containing travellers and baggage by the same elastic agent, opened the way to its employment for carrying warriors and the apparatus for fighting.
The plan was submitted to the consideration of the executive of an enlightened government. Congress, influenced by the most liberal and patriotic spirit, appropriated money for the experiment; and the navy department, then conducted by the Honourable William Jones, appointed commissioners to superintend the construction of a convenient vessel under the direction of Robert Fulton, Esq. the inventor, as engineer, and of Messrs Adam and Noah Brown, as naval constructors. The enterprise, from its commencement, and during a considerable part of its preparatory operations, was aided by the zealous co-operation of major-general Dearborn, then holding his head-quarters at the city of New York, as the officer commanding the third military district. The loss of his valuable counsel, in conducting a work which he had maturely considered, and which he strongly recommended, was the consequence of his removal to another section of the union, where his professional talents were specially required.
The keels of this steam frigate were laid on the 20th day of June, 1814. The strictest blockade the enemy could enforce, interrupted the coasting trade,
