The Navy Yard at New York as described by the Englishman Henry Tudor around 1831-1832

See also the several descriptions made by visitors to the navy yards of the United States in the first half of the 19th century on this weblog.

P. 34: “During my short residence in New York I was reminded, in no inconsiderable degree, of our good city of Liverpool, in consequence of that ceaseless activity, commercial bustle, and assemblage of vessels, forming the leading feature of both towns, and which assimilates one to the other. Of course, as an Englishman, I did not omit to visit the United States’ navy-yard, over which I was kindly shown by an officer in the service. The country being in a state of perfect repose from warlike operations, I did not witness there that busy and animated scene which, without properly reflecting on it, I had previously expected, from observing the fine and numberless vessels

p. 35: passing to and from along their bays and rivers, and which, beyond any doubt, declare them a great and maritime nation. I saw here the shattered hulk of the steam-frigate Fulton, the only man-of-war to which steam was ever applied. It was accidentally blown up in 1829, alongside the navy yard, and lies half sunk in the water. Two sixtyfour gun frigates were the only ships I saw on the stocks, and on which, in these " piping times of peace," no shipwrights were at work. The finest ship of war that I saw at New York was the Kensington frigate, thirty-two guns, a short time previously sold to the Russians. She was truly a splendid vessel, and her state-cabin fit for the reception of a monarch. To say that I witnessed a wonderful difference between the navy-yard of New York and those of Plymouth and Devonport in my own country, is but what all mankind would naturally suppose; and it would be an invidious remark to make, unless qualified by accompanying reflections. It would amount to nothing more than to simply declare, that youth is not manhood, and that the accumulations of a long series of centuries must inevitably, through the force of geometrical progression, be vastly greater than those of a few short years. America is but the infant giant, while the other has grown up to maturity. But I think it by no means requires a prophetic vision to foresee, through the

p. 36: long vista of coming years, a matured strength, and a mighty and prosperous power, to be wielded hereafter by the people of the United States, equal to any thing that either modern or ancient times have yet witnessed.

Source

Henry Tudor. Narrative of a tour in North America: comprising Mexico, the mines of real del Monte, the United States, and the British colonies: with an excursion to the island of Cuba. Vol 1. London, 1834.