"Here is the opinion of a _captain in the British Navy_ with reference to the availability of steam vessels for national defense; and what a lesson does it teach to us in America, where steam navigation is found penetrating every portion of the Union, and spreading itself on our maritime and lake frontier in every direction! Here is found no expression of apprehension lest the mercantile steamers might interfere with the growth or efficiency of the Navy to which the witness belonged. This opinion, moreover, is expressed in a country where, according to the testimony before the Committee already named, there were, in 1848, 174 _war steamers, with an aggregate horse-power of_ 44,480 _horses_; and where Mr. Alexander Gordon states, in a letter addressed to the same Committee, the Steam Navy had then cost the country L6,000,000 sterling, or $30,000,000, '_exclusive of all reinstatements and expenses during commission_;' the same gentleman also alleging that the annual repairs amounted to L108,000 Annual cost for coals, 110,000 Depreciation at a moderate allowance, 600,000 --------- Making the total amount of annual cost, L818,000 Or $4,094,000 =========== "The regular employment of the best engineers on board of contract vessels, and the great experience they would acquire from being constantly on active duty, would furnish to the naval service, in the event of a war, a corps that would be invaluable. In speaking of the superiority of the engineers on board of contract vessels in the employ of the British Government over those on board of the Queen's ships, a witness before the select Committee of the House of Commons says: 'Last year there was a universal complaint of the inferiority of the engineers and all persons connected with steam employed in her Majesty's service. It was explained, and very easily explained, by the superior advantages in the merchant service, and particularly the high wages paid. In all contract steam packets, they have men on board the vessels who are competent to superintend any alterations or repairs in the machinery which may be required.'" Secretary Graham said on this subject to the Senate Committee, 20 March, 1853: "While their discussions [mail steamers] justify the conclusion that vessels of this description can not be relied on to supersede those modelled and built only for purposes of war, it is respectfully suggested that a limited number of them, employed in time of peace in the transportation of the mails, would be found a most useful resource of the Government on the breaking out of war.