Anne Newport started her journey through the United States from Alabama 1 July 1823. Her description of the navy yards is perhaps even more useful as others thanks to the fact she was a female, which gives quite interesting remarks. P. 269: “The United States have a navy-yard at Brooklyn, at the head of which I found the hero of Lake Ontario, Commodore Chauncey, one of the finest looking men I have seen ; and quite a young looking man to have commanded at the lake. He is a man of good size, and engaging manners. The navy-yard comprises -19 acres of ground, encompassed with a wall, and strictly guarded. It is, moreover well stored with death-dealing weapons, (to use one of Knickerbocker’s expressions,) “breathing gunpowder, and defiance to the world!” Here I saw the celebrated steam frigate, a huge machine, but is only used to muster and discipline the marines for the service of the navy. The deck is remarkable for being the largest in the known world.”
Source
Sketches of Historyy, life, and manners in the United States. New Haven, 1826.
Source
Sketches of Historyy, life, and manners in the United States. New Haven, 1826.
