192

Undefended conditions of the American coast 193

Conditions of Southern coasting trade 195

British blockade severs the mutual intercourse of the different
sections of the United States 198

Remarks of Representative Pearson, of North Carolina 199

Message of the Governor of Pennsylvania 200

Rigors of the blockade shown by figures 201

Momentary importance of the North Carolina coast 203

Advocacy of an internal navigation system 204

Evidence of privation in the rebound of prices and shipping
movement after peace 205

Exposition of conditions, in a contemporary letter by a
naval officer 207

The experiences of the War of 1812 now largely forgotten 208

Lessons to be deduced 208

Pressure upon the British Government exerted, even by the
puny contemporary American Navy 209

Advantage of the American position 211

Opinions of Presidents Washington and Adams as to the
international advantage of a navy 212

Policy of President Jefferson 213

CHAPTER XIV

MARITIME OPERATIONS EXTERNAL TO THE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES,
1813-1814

Commerce destruction the one offensive maritime resort left
open to the United States 215

Respective objects of privateers and of naval vessels 216

The approaches to the British islands the most fruitful
field for operations against commerce 216

Cruise of the "Argus" 217

Capture of the "Argus" by the "Pelican" 217

Significance of the cruise of the "Argus" 219

Great number of captures by American cruisers 220

Comparatively few American merchant ships captured at sea 221

Shows the large scale on which British commerce throve, and
the disappearance of American shipping 221

Control of British Navy shown by American prac