Let us leave out of consideration the security of all our other harbors and our commerce on the high seas, and also the importance of having at command the means of attacking the enemy's coast, in the absence of his fleet.

We take the single case of the attack being made on New York harbor, and that our whole fleet is assembled there.

Now, if this fleet be equal in number to the enemy, the chances of success may be regarded as equal; if inferior, the chances are against us--for an attacking force would probably be of picked men and of the best materials.

But here the consequences of victory are very unequal: the enemy can lose his squadron only, while we put in peril both our squadron and the objects it is intended to defend.

If we suppose our own naval force superior to that of the enemy, the defence of this harbor would in all respects be complete, provided this force never left the harbor.