A Card to the Committee of Congress for Naval Affairs.

The Spaniards make it a practice to erect monuments to the memory of their illustrious heroes on the Ocean. This they do by calling their ships of war by their names. This custom not only does honor to illustrious virtue, but is calculated to inspire the Commanders and sailors on board their ships with courage. I suppose, in imitation of the practice of the Spaniards, the frigates now building for the Continental service are called by the names of Montgomery ー Warren ー Macpherson ー Hendricks, &c.? would not this be better than the many gasconading and ridiculous names which disgrace the lists of the English and French navies ー Such as the Invincible ー the Terrible ー the Mercury ー the Phoenix ー the Otter and the like. ー I leave it to the Congress to determine the rank of the officer ー or the nature of the service which shall intitle a man to the honor of having a ship called by his name. The honor should be registered, in order that families may ascertain their glory from it hereafter.