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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
form his suite; it should at all times be left to the discretion of the Commander in Chief to hoist his pendant on board of such vessel in the squadron or fleet as he may select. This force should be kept as a Blockading squadron continually on the enemy's coast; the Transport Brig will be able to keep the force supplied with Naval stores and provisions.- There will be no necessity for the vessels to leave this station from year to year; should it be necessary to seek a harbour during the hurricane months, the adjacent Islands will afford ample security and every facility, will supply the-vessels amply with wood and water and other necessaries. The small schooners are intended as despatch vessels, by which a channel of communication can be kept open with the government, and to convey instructions from one vessel to the other in the squadron which will neccessarily be divided along: the coast, also to watch the movements of the enemy's cruisers and give the earliest information- Having in the foregoing remarks enumerated the number 0£ vesseh,, Officers and men requisite for the formation 0£ a small yet efficient Navy for the service of the Republic of Texas-which if fostered by the Government will be found amply sufficient to protect our com- merce, arid prosecute a war upon the Ocean, I shall now offer a few remarks upon the quality that each should possess to render it effi- cient and serviceable.- In procuring vessels for this service, I would urge it upon the Gov- ernment to avoid that cours\) which has already proved so detrimental to the best interest of the Naval service; which is that of purchasing vessels unsuited, merely because they are to be purchased at a low rate or upon accommodating terms: In giving an idea how in our day a ship is built, masted, and rigged, premising simply, that it is, not so much my desire to suggest any new notions to those who are familliar with the subject; but to convey a plain yet palpable idea, to those to whom it is a mystery and who should be acquainted with what is requisite. The nicest and most difficult operation in Naval Architecture is in forming the "draught" of your vessel: in vessels of War, the great object is speed, connected with far as may be, ease of movement, capacity to accommodate her crew and to carry a large supply of provisions, water and ammuni- tion; it is moreover an essential point to be considered, that thu vessel must float sufficiently high above the water to run no risk in shipping seas in her ports in time of action, in order to prevent this the constructor must make an estimate of the whole weight of the ship, including hull, spars, armament, men, amunitions and provisions, and to model the bottom that it will have displaced an e<1ual weight of water when arrived at the desired depth - Such is the description of a vessel requisite for Naval service, the course heretofore pursued of purchasing promiscuously vessels which have been built for Mer- chantmen, is one very much to be deprecated, it is an erroneous idea that the Govt. is economising in consequence of purchasing such ves- sels at a low rate, for the reasons wh_ich I ·will now state 1st. A vessel constructed for the merchant service is modelled for safe and easy movement with a view to room for carrying heavy car- goes- 2d. There must be many alterations made in the frame, which tend!, much to weaken, them and destroy their quality for speed-
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