COLUMBIA TELESCOPE, py a must) it wmbW. TKRM'fe-.TrtM* Doilaju per aaamn. ruJ &f llui yl*r P*X?W/ia lhe A it v krt tit v sHTf? wn IrtMrtcJ at t)?a nit* of Toveftty-flv# eoat* fbr aranr twenty llnea, or ? lo? uumbcr. for flto fir.t iniortion, tad for!/ lentt for eaeh eontlnaaneo.?TIkmo frbfci non ?abMHbora aiott bo accompanied by th? cash. "p ? ra>pparibl? reforeuce, or they will rocelvo ytf tHEil&Atfc CfrTHKOjflTED STATES. Fortifications of the U. Statu.?.The bill "makinjc appropriation fhr certain for tifications of the United States,'* being un der consideration;' and Mr. Smith, of Mar. | having moVed to strike out the appropria tion of seventeen thousand dollar* for tho piirchano of Imd and the right of way on Throat's in Long Island sound,?in support of the mdtien, .'Nr. Dickerson, of New Jer?ey, observ ed: This tittle appropriation, for purchas ing about flfty?two acres of land at Throgg'i neck, at the etpertso of 17,000 dollars, wbie*i appears so harmless, involves con sequences of the utmost importance to the country. It ia fo lead to tho expenditure of at I- ast a million aftd a half of dollars, to defend the harbor oftfew York against the approach of such ships of tvar as woold rrnture through the whirl pools of Heflgate. It also involve* the question, whether it wdl not be possible to cheek the rage for fortifications, which has already eost us many millions of dollars, and it i? to be at* tcmled with eonseqtiencee much more to be dreaded than the loss of tftooey. If we aru to construct the proposed for tifications at Throng's neck son Wilkin's point, it will be utterly in vain to ouoose tfie construction of other*, however use !o*s or expensive they mny bo. Deforo we take this fault e atep, it will be well to inquire what we hnve already ?lone, ami what la proposed to do, upon the Njhject of fortifications. No one will deny, but thrft certain important points on our maritime frontier shoold be well fortified; but the system, if carried to excesa, be conioa rmnooa to the country. Ten millions of dollars will construct as meu* fortiflcmioo* H* we ought to garrison, in wtr or pence; ~dwe ahoutd construct no fortification - - ?? -~r~ ed, unless we mean them for our enemies, if we pertevero in the plant adopted, our expenditure* for fortifications will amoynt to four or fire timet that sum. Masv member* of Congress havo viewed, with borror, tho extravagant scheme of fortify ing our frontier*, pursued wince the lote war, with at much ardor as if tho enemy rvn? nppronrhingus. They have consider ed morn than half the expenditure* of these ratifications, as atyuey worse than thrown away. They have made opposition ti the measure, but thoy have not been austained by their conatituenta; but, on the Contrary, have been held up at the enomUs of use ful institution* Tliey havo been borne .lown by the oopularify of oar lute chief magistrate, with whom this scheme was known tp be * f.?vorito meesurt. That the lnte president very honestly believed that the prosperity of the country would be promoted by the o'toptlon of hit stupendous schome of fortifications, cannot be doubted. 1 lie efforts have been well meant; but be has ogregfiouily mistaken tho interest of tfse country. As onr amule revenues have enabled us to construct these fortitications, without re sort to diroct tases, the people at large Mtcm (o have given themselves but little trouble upon the (object, but icentcif dis |mm?I to yield to the wishes of i popular president, who. at his tint election, came into office by the geheral nnsent of the pre* dominant party, and, i?t hia second, by the tuieot of all parties. Indeed, hia last elec tion was nearly unanimona. It ia not to be presumed, that the favorite "measures 6f a preoidont, thus elect?!, are to he opposed bv his cabinet, even if they had the dispo m^ioh to do no, nor by thn member* ofl ?%t |he*e ongineera nr? not con sulted m to th? policy of eroding them.? The plan of completely fortifying our mnr itlme frontier, wmi adopted before the or ri*?l of the diitlngaia hen foreigner now11 " lowing to onr engineer corp?, end in who*< rcienco wo ju?llf pl?co tho mo?t implicit ronfhlenrt. Oor oniiooor* mm orital up on to ilnrbotho pl*M nOcowory for carry >n* into execution the tchomo mlopt?M mftjmifcont mm*/* TW? tbcv Wo Um??, in part; without re* k m.I to Im rotourco*, policy, or }*t?Yv/?tof th4 countnr. Tho*o weri not ?nbj?/4i tor their cwwHornlion-^tMit ot*tM t? M ferl ?V ? or,?W**r*tton of congt'O'. I Ijn, tbato tun Eh the AlhgliM! mountain*?that the waters of tho You^hi mode to Imo through Ibis tunnel, supply canal* oo tbii ?mo the mountains, aod aii charge themselves into the thenapeake.? They inform you whet om ??e done, with out Mjrin| what ought to bo done. Tho decision opon that ro?U entirely with ano ther body, who, atone, are resposiblc, *o far as tho United States arc concerned. The commencement of a new ndminis* tration affords a favorable occasion for a new effort to check the race for fortifica tions.' It is not believed that the preseot I chief magistrate i* in favor of completing these fortifications, upon the magnificent scale of bis predocaaabr or, if tob is. that His popularity is ao otrerrt helmin* ut? carry the ttiiMara throdgh; in?mmtich as be 6m not b?en elected to hit office unani ? mously, or by a majority approaching to unanimity. When the plan of .1881 of our proponed fortiticntion?, wm developed, by which we were to have, in addition to what we had latt war, fortifications that woold cost 18 millions ofdollar*, and reonire for garrison* ill time of War, thirty-eight thousand men, I rejoiced, because (believed it would cre ate an alarm throughout the country, which would bare checked the immense expen diture# contemplated?but 1 was mistaken: for this development took place precisely when it was ascertained that Mr. Monroe had been re-elected by nn almost unnnimou* vote. So far from giving a check to the prosecution of the plan, it?cem< to hnro created a new impetus in .?? favor, by hold ing up to the people of most of the state*, a prospect ol coming in for a due propor tion of the expenditures for these estab lishments. The southern states are to have |frupQruoo oi iriese expenditures? Virginia and Maryland to be (ratified with tho immense sums to ba laid out at Old Point Comfort and the Hip Raps. How, York, by the proposed erection efforts, to the amount of five or six millions of dot* Ian; (he eaitem states to be pros id?d for, but not so liberally; North Carolina, which never comes in for her proptr share of fmblic patronage, must be satisfied with two Htle forts, to cost two hundred thousand dollars. Petmsylfsnif I* to have ? very small divkhrotMtder fort uenrMnc *? ** lite least importance to that state. It roust be obMrveu that the plan of fortifications of 1821, embrace* hut ? part of the system? even Fort Fayette and Fort Washington, are notincladed in it?nor doe* it include many other forte which have been built in the United States, and which mutt be re built or repaired at a very ^rewt expense, to oi'ike thin system of forlificntion uni form and complete. By the plan of 1D21, the proposed fbrti* ficntin*, in Addition to tbo*e previously erected for the defence of our m.trtttime frontier, are divided into three clones, to be erected at three different period*, m the country may be able to bear the et peme. 'I hone of the fir?t cl*#? to cost eight million*, ten thousand end fifty-four dollars?to require for garrison*, in time of war 20,306 men, and id time of peace 2,640, The second class to cost 4,711,031 dollars, to require 8,015 men, in time of war, and 1.090 in pence. The third cIkm to coat 6.073,070 and to require 7,042 men in war, and 1,1 fo in peace, to co*U in all, 17,705,053 dollara?any 16,000,000 dollar*. To require in war 37,902?*?y 38,000 men, and in peace 4,690-eay 5,0. By a report accompanyinf the pre?ideot*e| mettage, of the 6th December tat, we find eatimato* of additional work? for de fence of Boston harbor and NarnigatneU bay?.for raft* to obctroct the channel he tween fort* Monroe and Calhoun?fort at Craney I ? lam I?fort at New Port New*? I fort at Naaseway fhoal?for tnt Thomas' I point, and fort at Poipt Patience, not incln d*d In the estimate* of 1821, to the amount of itftftrty tiro million* of dollar*. do that thin acheme of fort* of 18*21, ns enlarged by the wlditioo* of IBtlA, i* to eo?t nearly twenty million* of dollar*, by the e^tiihato mihmitied, which are *evend million* of tlolhrc unrlc- Wh*t will be the real co*t of these works; mihI thi* does not include the fort* Fayette end Wa*hlngton, completed nince the lnte.wir, nor n Rreut variety of foit? erectod previously t?#, and during thu late war?** fort George, fort Preblu, fort Conttitution, fort Bewail, fart Indeptm tiencfl, fort Wntrren, fort Wnlcott, fort fcrt Trutntmll ' ftColrnnbo*. fort Utb>, fort Wood, lo*'; Mifflin, fort Mcllen* ?v, fort Hetsrr.. p>rt rik?, fort NlMfpr*, fo ' HKr:?h?, fort frtrl GrMiot, fort Vbm* I, (ort Dcirrhoro, fort IhrriMn, fort Motcon* r>trt 2^orfol1t? fort jjtttMtfni S. C? fort Solirw.t, M. C. fott Moultrie, fort Scott, fort Montioiuorv, fort Crawford, (Ala.) fori CbuH^'tUi, fort lhmpM? (btt OMft, fortCNrkr, fori fit* - - mud fort Cr?wT?W, Th*?? fjtto ofto in thai in (1m jw 1817 they wtw all military ?tatiotM, commanded by tho different offi cer* of our array, at appears by n report time 4,460 man wtr* fcationed at these fori*. Many of them will no doubt be fi. nally abandoned, baimimy oftheftitmi?tbe repaired nod to^ve them aaV thing like uniformity to ttoeyetein, ami will coat os several milliona of dollar*. Accnrocy, m to the lifiwe or worka of encb magnitude, could nut ba expected.?I A m?n wlio builds knowa tbnt the estimate* full nrach below the actoal coat It MM matter of surprise that our ?l|ioeen hatel been able to make their iillmtH with m| near an approach t for Fortification*, from I7W, to 1814, twooty yenra, nrnoaot ?(1 to $M 16,407V ftlnce that time, the f dlnwlng npprnpri allonn have been made fur F./rtlJUat t???j 1814, March 1Mb. . #600,000 JI8I&, March 8d, 400,000 1815, Dectmbcr tWI, ? 100,000 1816, April SOtk, 839,000 1U17, March 3<), - - 838,00<] 1810. Kebruary 1Mb, ' . . 500,0^0 ;5T:? : : SffiK aasi. ?. .as 1824. April 40th, ? - 046,000 1815, March 2d, - - . 802,072 The estimate* of 1821 amounted to ? - 17,705,055 Money expended up to 50th Sep tember, 1046, upon1 the fort* of thn estimate. of 1821, ? 3,005,000 To bo expended under future Ap propriation* 14,190,05$ To which ndd for Horka contain ed in the state ment of 6th De cember, 1825, not included in estimate of IbCl, 1 953,037 16,145,12-3 $27,185,500 If vtc mid to this proper allowance for under estimates on tho fortifications still to bo furnished?-for losses on contracts?for I ho gun* ?nd armaments for all these fort*; and if we m;ike allowance for the forts not mentioned in the estimate* of 1821, but which must bo rebuilt or repaired, our whole system of fortification will stand u? in n sum not less than forty millions of dollar*. The men required for the forts mention ed in the plan ot 1891, were in time of war 37.062, in penco 4.690. For the fort* of Washington nn,| Fayette, not men tioned in the plan of 821, 1,600 men in time of war, and 200 in peace. For the forts mentioned in the estimate of 6ih De cember. 1825, and not contained in the plan of 1821, 2,O<:0 men in war and 250 in peace. To these add the requisite in 10IT, many of which must again be occu pied, if we make our system of fortifica tions crmplete upon our f?r??ent mngnifi cent plan, and we shall find that 50*000 men at leant, will bo wauled for our forti fications in tiruu of war, and 8,000 in troop* arc* stationed wrtierc inoVinir?v wanted. Most of those required fur the garrisons in time of peace, must be added to our present standing army, ns soon as | our new forts shall be ready for their ro ception. 1'be first expense ??f all these forts,! with their armaments, suppose them to co<4t 40 million* of Hollars, the United States can boar. They can garrison these forts in time of pear e?it will only require then to double our standing army. Hut what arc wo to do in case of war. Our extensive ami munificent system of forti fications? will then be oar annoyance in* tte nl of defence. They must be well garrisoned, or they will fall into the hands of the enemy; if we have 50,000 men in garrisons, where nro we to obtain men to fight in the field, at points not protected by the forts? If out men leave the forts, they will be taken by the enemy?if thoy do not, the country will be ravaged. A large portion of our maratime fortifi cations must float; must move from place 1 to place to meet the enemy. On lundj our men must not be cooped up m forts,' but must fight in the field. The works thai are .commenced, must be finished, unless it be discovered that iney can oo 01 no use, ns inai on uaupnin Island, the gun* of which could not reach the channel it w.n meant to protect, or unless they afe discovered to be beyond the bounds of the United Stutcs, as that at House's Point. This fort was to mount 309 guns. How much it cost the United States, I do not know?hut 200,000 dollar* were asked for advancing the work?when it was discov ered to he on the British Territory. This created great consternation at the time, but I consider it a fortunate circumstance as otherwise we should have squandered nearly a million of dollars there. The I British now own this fortification, hut they have not had tho folly to finish it, and pio (Mbly never will have. It is tho direct and necessary tendency of this system of fortifications, to increase our standing army. The author of the system must have calculated upon a large peace establishment, as a part of his ays t Wc firwl, in hi? letter. when necrclnry war, to Mr. Giles, of Um !4d Februa , 1016, (published in the National In telligencer of 13th Jununry, 1821,) after comparing the situation ot oar country With that of other nations, he eayn, " torn the view I hero taken of the irtllflt, I Mn of opinion that not let* than <0,000 troop ought, for tfe4 pret#ot, to N H? toned interview." No nwre troop# wet? wanted th?n than ere ?n although Mr, Mooitw bw We iro'now mKi id upoo for another ip* propriatloo, to th? amount of nearly rate of 527 dollar# per acre, except for a fortification, we wnstft the public money. It if said two or thre$ acrea of it are neceaaary for a light houMb Let that be purchaaed under thelq^t hooa* bill?not under thia. If w? purctu## Throgg'i point, we thall nest oe called upon to purchaae Wilkin#' poipl, (which ia opposite) probably nt a much nor* ei* travagwDl rate. We aiw told that nakbi thia pnretinue ia no pledge that the worn ore 10 do exncted. A very different len* (?ua,e will be h?4rdwlu>n we ihnlliMciil* ed upon for appropriations for these forte ?the estimates fur building, which amount to nearly n million of dollars, hut which, with their nrmaments, will coat nearly ^ million und a half of dollars. The sene* tor from Maryland (Gen. Smith) has mor ed to itrike out this item of the appropri ation, and has shown, moit conclusively, that, to build the contemplated fort* r?t Throgg'* point and Wilkin#' point, will be? to throw iiw.iv our money; that if enemies* vet&els should have the r:??ht?en to Ap proach New York, through ttie wmript?ol* of llellgatc, a ?iX'gtu) battery, which cou'.d be erected in four d?js, near Mt Gracie's house, oppoii'e theso whirlpools would effectually check them?and thib experience of that gentleman during the revolution, as well as late war, enable* him to judge correctly upon this suhicct. Indeed, it is preposterous to lear, that ? fleet sufficient to endanger the city of New. V?dr. wnakl wittf firwj* it* wav through, gone through- the very in?icniu?ar'-en?w - show that they were nets ol desperation. When Sir Jamo* Wallace wished to paw this place, he fcas informed by his pilot thst it would be an act of randness; that i bit ship would be lost; he clapt epiitol to the pilot's head, end told hya to put hie f?hip through, or he would blow his brains out?the pilot obeyed?the experiment succeeded. utiier pilot*, under similar circumstances, might make similar experi ments. A man will attempt any thing, sooner than hare hit brain* blown out.? After all thiit bM boon d?M, aftd all that possibly can be (lone, by permanent forti fications at the Narrows, to secure the harbor of New York, ships of war will more easily paw there than through Hell gate, ns it now is. These forts can We of no importance to New-York as a defence for their harbor/ but they will be important to the country around them, as they will cause an expen diture of a million nod a half of dollars there. But, New York ought to be satis fied with the expenditures which kavi ta ken plncft, for the safety of their harbor, independent of Throgg s Neck and Wil kins' point. The fort* built, nrnl to be bcnlt, lor (ho protection of New York, ere, betides thoao at Throcg*fl Neck ami Wilkin*' point. . Fort at New Utrect point tocott $424,995 Fort Tompkln* 485,9fyj Fort on Mi