And it must be obvious, from the nature of the materials of which they are constructed, that the expense of their support must be inconsiderable.

It is true that for some years past a large item of annual expenditure for fortifications has been under the head of "repairs;" but much of this sum is for alterations and enlargements of temporary and inefficient works, erected anterior to the war of 1812.

Some of it, however, has been for actual repairs of decayed or injured portions of the forts; these injuries resulting from the nature of the climate, the foundations, the use of poor materials and poor workmanship, and from neglect and abandonment.

But if we include the risk of abandonment at times, it is estimated, upon data drawn from past experience, that _one-third of one per cent.

per annum_, of the first cost, will keep in perfect repair any of our forts that have been constructed since the last war.
But it is unnecessary to further discuss this question We repeat what has already been said, no matter what may be the relative cost of ships and forts, the one, as a general thing, cannot be substituted for the other.