February 6, 1807. A resolution of the House of Representatives of yesterday, asks from me information as to the efficacy of the gun-boat defence, what particular ports we propose to place them in, and how many in each. I will enumerate the particular ports, but instead of saying literally how many to each, on which there would be a thousand opinions, I will throw them into groups as below, and say how many to each group. Will you be so good as to state how many you would think necessary for each of the ports below mentioned, to give then such a degree of protection as you think would be sufficiently effectual in time of war? Also to strike out any of the ports here named, and insert others as you shall think best: Mississippi river, } Lake Ponchartrain, } Savannah, } Beaufort, } Charleston, } Cape Fear, } Ocracock, } Chesapeake Bay and water, Delaware Bay, New York, } New London, } Newport, } Boston, } Newburyport,} Portsmouth, } Portland, } Kennebeck, } Penobscot, } Passamaquoddy. Send me also, if you please, copies of the opinions of certain officers on the effect of gun-boats, which I believe, were formerly laid before a committee. A similar note in substance was sent to General Dearborne. TO MR. GALLATIN. February 9, 1807.