Commodore John Barry; "The Father of the American Navy" the Record of His Services for Our Country

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1903. Excerpt: ... 334 Hostility of the French CHAPTER XXVIII. BARRY ADVISES THE CREATION OF A NAVY DEPARTMENT AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NAVY YARDS. WAR WITH FRANCE BARRY GIVEN AUTHORITY TO CAPTURE HOSTILE FRENCH VESSELS. SENT ON AN EXPEDITION. The first vessel of our infant navy, founded to resist Algerian outrages, was, when ready for duty, to be used against our ally in the Revolution. The French Republic claimed as its heritage the treaty of alliance of Louis XVI, with our battling colonies. It demanded the support of the United States in its war with England. Washington's policy of no foreign alliances or entanglements, though condemned by Democratic Republicans and Democratic Societies, was adhered to so tenaciously as to incur the hostility of the French Republic. Thus it came about that the first armed vessels of our country, under the Constitution made possible by French support during our Revolution, were sent out with orders to attack and conquer French armed vessels preying upon our commerce. In this endeavor Captain John Barry was as resolute and as active against his former associates as they had unitedly cooperated against the enemy of both. The official letters to Captain Barry show his early operations: These orders were issued by Secretary of War M'Henry, concerning whose selection by President Adams Washington wrote to Alexander Hamilton from Mt. Vernon on August 9th, 1798, saying: Your opinion respecting the unfitness of a certain gentleman for the office he holds accords with mine, and it is to be regretted sorely at this time that the opinions are so well founded. I early discovered, after he entered upon the duties of his office, that his talents were unequal to great exertions or deep resources. In truth they were not to be expected; for the fact is, it was a Hobson's cho...