off its retreat. These considerations show the great advantage of establishing, at the mouth of the Bay of Mobile, very strong Works, such as would be adequate to all the purposes suggested.

If Fortifications were necessary, only to protect our Country and Cities against the entry of large Ships of War into our Bays and Rivers, they would be of little use for the defence of New Orleans, since that City cannot be approached so near, either by the Mississippi, or in any other direction, by such Vessels, for them to make an attack on it. In the Gulf, within our limits West of Florida, which has been acquired since these works were decided on, and commenced, there is no Bay or River, into which large Ships of War can enter. As a de. fence, therefore, against an attack from such Vessels, extensive works would be altogether unnecessary, either at Mobile Point, or at Dauphine Island, since Sloops of War only can navigate the deepest Channel. But it is not for that purpose alone that these works are intended. It is to provide, also, against a formidable invasion, both by land and sea, the object of which may be to shake the foundation of our system. Should such small works be erected, and such an invasion take place, they would be sure to fall at once into the hands of the Invaders, and to be turned against us.

Whether the acquisition of Florida may be considered as affording an inducement, to make any change in the position or strength of these Works, is a circumstance which also merits attention. From the view which I have taken of the subject, I am of opinion, that it should not. The defence of New Orleans, and of the River Mississippi, against a powerful invasion, being one of the great objects of such extensive works, that object would be essentially abandoned, if they should be established Eastward of the Bay of Mobile, since the Force to be collected in them would be placed at too great a distance to allow the co-operation, necessary for those purposes, between it and that at the City. In addition to which, it may be observed, that, by carrying them to Pensacola, or further to the East, that Bay would fall immediately, in case of such invasion, into the hands of the Enemy, whereby such co-operation would be rendered utterly impossible, and the State of Alabama would also be left wholly unprotected.

With a view to such formidable invasion, of which we should never lose sight, and of the great objects to which it would be directed, I think that very strong Works, at some point within the Gulf of Mexico, will be found indispensable. I think, also, that these Works ought to be established at the Bay of Mobile, one at Mobile Point, and the other on Dauphine Island, whereby the Enemy would be excluded, and the complete command of that Bay, with all the advantages attending it, be secured to ourselves. In the case of such invasion, it will, it is presumed, be deemed necessary to collect at some point, other than at New Orleans, a strong Force, capable of moving in any

direction, and affording aid to any part which may be attacked, and, in my judgment, no position presents so many advantages, as a point of rendezvous, for such Force, as the mouth of that Bay. The fortification at the Rigolets will defend the entrance by one passage into Lake Ponchartrain, and also into Pearl River, which empties into the Gulf, at that point. Between the Rigolets and Mobile Bay, there are but two Inlets, which deserve the name, those of St. Louis and Pascagola, the entrance to which is too shallow, even for the smallest Vessels; and from the Rigolets to Mobile Bay, the whole Coast is equally shallow, affording the depth of a few feet of water only. Cat Island, which is nearest the Rigolets, is about 7 miles distant from the Coast, and 30 from the Rigolets. Ship Island is distant about 10 miles from Cat Island, and 12 from the Coast. Between these Islands and the Coast, the water is very shallow. As to the precise depth of water in approaching those Islands from the Gulf, the report of the topographical Engineers not having yet been received, it is impossible to speak with precision; but admitting it to be such, as for Frigates, and even Ships of the Line, to enter, the anchorage at both is unsafe, being much exposed to North-west winds. Along the Coast, therefore, there is no motive for such strong Works on our part; no Town to guard; no inlet into the Country to defend; and if placed on the Islands, and the entrance to them is such as to admit large Ships of War, distant as they are from the Coast, it would be more easy for the Enemy to assail them with effect.

The position, however, at Mobile Bay, is essentially different. That Bay takes its name from the Mobile River, which is formed by the junction of the Alabama and Tombigbee, which extend each about 300 miles into the interior, approaching, at their head waters, near the Tennessee River. If the Enemy possessed its mouth, and fortified Mobile Point and Dauphine Island, being superior at sea, it would be difficult for us to dispossess him of either, even of Mobile Point; and holding that position, Pensacola would soon fall, as, without incurring great expense in the construction of Works there, it would present but a feeble resistance to a strong force in its rear. If we had a work at Mobile Point only, the Enemy might take Dauphine Island, which would afford him great aid in attacking the Point, and enable him, even should we succeed in repelling the attack, to render us great mischief there, and throughout the whole Gulf. In every view which can be taken of the subject, it appears indispensable for us to command the entrance into Mobile Bay; and that decision being taken, I think the considerations which favour the occupation of Dauphine Island by a strong Work, are conclusive. It is proper to observe, that, after the repulse before New Orleans, in the late War, the British Forces took possession of Dauphine Island, and held it till the Peace. Under neither of the Reports of the Board of Engineers and Naval Commis

sioners, could any but Sloops of War enter the Bay, or the anchorage between Dauphine and Pelican Islands. Both Reports give to that anchorage 18 feet at low water, and 204 at high. The only difference between them consists in this: that, in the first, a bar, leading to the anchorage, reducing the depth of water to 12 feet at low tide, was omitted. In neither case could Frigates enter, though Sloops of War of larger size might. The whole scope, however, of this reasoning, turns on a different principle-on the Works necessary to defend that Bay, and by means thereof, New Orleans, the Mississippi, and all the surrounding Country, against a powerful invasion, both by land and sea, and not on the precise depth of water in any of the approaches to the Bay or to the Island.

The reasoning which is applicable to the Works near New Orleans, and at the Bay of Mobile, is equally so, in certain respects, to those which are to be erected for the defence of all the Bays and Rivers along the other parts of the Coast. All those Works are also erected on a greater scale than would be necessary, for the sole purpose of preventing the passage of our inlets by large Ships of War. They are, in most instances, formed for defence against a more powerful invasion, both by Land and Sea. There are, however, some differences between the works which are deemed necessary in the Gulf, and those in other parts of our Union, founded on the peculiar situation of that part of the Coast. The vast extent of the Mississippi, the great outlet and channel of commerce for so many States, all of which may be affected by the seizure of that City, or of any part of the river, to a great extent above it, is one of those striking peculiarities which require particular provision. The thinness of the Population near the City, making it necessary that the Force requisite for its defence should be called from distant parts and States, is another. The danger which the Army assembled at New Orleans, would be exposed to, of being cut off, in case the Enemy should throw a force on the River above it, from the difficulty of ascending the River to attack it, and of making a retreat in any other direction, is a third. For an attack on the City of New Orleans, Mobile Bay, or any part of the intermediate Coast, Ships of War would be necessary only as a convoy, to protect the Transports against a Naval Force on their passage, and on their approach to the shore, for the landing of the Men, and on their return home, in case they should be repulsed.

On the important subject of our Defences generally, I think proper to observe, that the system was adopted immediately after the late War, by Congress, on great consideration and a thorough knowledge of the effects of that War-by the enormous expense attending it-by the waste of life, of property, and by the general distress of the Country. The amount of Debt incurred in that War, and due at its conclusion, without taking into the estimate other losses, having been heretofore

communicated, need not now be repeated. The interest of the Debt thus incurred, is four times more than the sum necessary, by annual Appropriations, for the completion of our whole System of Defence, Land and Naval, to the extent provided for, and within the time specified. When that System shall be completed, the expense of construction will cease, and our expenditures be proportionally diminished. Should another War occur before it is completed, the experience of the last marks in characters too strong to be mistaken, its inevitable consequences; and should such War occur, and find us unprepared for it, what will be our justification, to the enligthened Body whom we represent, for not having completed these defences? That this System should not have been adopted before the late War, cannot be a cause of surprise to any one, because all might wish to avoid every expense, the necessity of which might be, in any degree doubtful. But, with the experience of that War before us, it is thought there is no cause for hesitation. Will the completion of these Works, and the augmentation of our Navy, to the point contemplated by Law, require the imposition of onerous burthens on our Fellow-citizens, such as they cannot or will not bear? Have such, or any burthens, been imposed to advance the System to its present state? It is known that no burthens whatever have been imposed; on the contrary, that all the direct or internal taxes have been long repealed, and none paid but those which are indirect and voluntary, such as are imposed on articles imported from Foreign Countries, most of which are luxuries, and on the Vessels employed in the transportation; taxes which some of our most enlightened Citizens think ought to be imposed on many of the articles, for the encouragement of our manufactures, even if the Revenue derived from them could be dispensed with. It is known, also, that, in all other respects, our condition, as a Natioh, is, in the highest degree, prosperous and flourishing, nearly half the debt incurred in the late War having already been discharged, and considerable progress having also been made in the completion of this System of Defence, and in the construction of other Works of great extent and utility, by the Revenue derived from these sources, and from the sale of the Publick Lands. I may add, also, that a very generous provision has been made, from the same sources, for the surviving Officers and Soldiers of our Revolutionary Army. These important facts show that this System has been so far executed, and may be completed, without any real inconvenience to the Publick. Were it, however, otherwise, I have full confidence that any burthens which might be found necessary, for the completion of this System, in both its branches, within the term contemplated, or much sooner, should any emergency require it, would be called for, rather than complained of, by our Fellow-citizens.

From these views, applicable to the very important subject of our Defences generally, as well as to the work at Dauphine Island, I think

it my duty to recommend to Congress an Appropriation for the latter. I considered the withholding it at the last Session as the expression only of a doubt, by Congress, of the propriety of the Position, and not as a definitive opinion. Supposing that that question would be decided at the present Session, I caused the Position, and such parts of the Coast as are particularly connected with it, to be re-examined, that all the light on which the decision, as to the Appropriation, could depend, might be fully before you.

In the first Survey, the Report of which was that on which the Works, intended for the defence of New Orleans, the Mississippi, the Bay of Mobile, and all the Country dependant on those waters, were sanctioned by the Executive; the Commissioners were industriously engaged about 6 months. I should have communicated that very able and interesting Document then, but from a doubt how far the interest of our Country would justify its publication, a circumstance which I now mention, that the attention of Congress may be drawn to it. JAMES MONROE.

Washington, 26th March, 1822.

PROCLAMATION of the President of The United States, declaring the Ports of The United States to be open to Vessels from certain British Islands and Colonies. 24th August, 1822.

By the President of the United States of America.

A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS, by an Act of the Congress of The United States, passed on the 6th day of May last, it was provided, that, on satisfactory evidence being given to the President of The United States, that the Ports in the Islands or Colonies of the West Indies under the dominion of Great Britain have been opened to the Vessels of The United States, the President should be, and thereby was, authorized to issue his Proclamation, declaring that the Ports of The United States should thereafter be open to Vessels of Great Britain, employed in the trade and intercourse between The United States and such Islands or Colonies, subject to such reciprocal rules and restrictions as the President of The United States might, by such Proclamation, make and publish, any thing in the Laws entitled, an Act concerning Navigation, or an Act entitled "An Act supplementary to an Act concerning Navigation," to the contrary notwithstanding.

And, whereas, satisfactory evidence has been given to the President of The United States, that the Ports hereinafter named, in the Islands