Which grumpy English writer suggested the Royal Navy attack Buffalo, NY?

Question

Years ago, I read a classic "travels in America" account by a grumpy / snarky English writer - early 20th or late 19th century. It may well have been Orwell or Dickens. In his account, the author observes the many undefended factories and cities on the U.S. coast, and has a great throwaway line about how the Royal Navy could blow it all to oblivion in 15 minutes. For the life of me, I can't find this reference, and it is driving me crazy. Help!!

Answer 1

Now it is driving me nuts (well more nuts) - - - hmm Suspect George Bernard Shaw or Oscar Wilde but then the two were always up to something - - - other names which sprang to mind were Anthony Trollope --

AHA I found it - - - - among the voices in my head one said "Kipling," will send link and blurb but the article is bigger....

http://whitewolf.newcastle.edu.au/words/authors/K/KiplingRudyard/prose/AmericanNotes/defencelesscoasts.html
""""""""""Yet there are other powers who are not “ohai band” (of the brotherhood)—China, for instance. Try to believe an irresponsible writer when he assures you that China’s fleet to-day, if properly manned, could waft the entire American navy out of the water and into the blue. The big, fat Republic that is afraid of nothing, because nothing up to the present date has happened to make her afraid, is as unprotected as a jelly-fish. Not internally, of course—it would be madness for any Power to throw men into America; they would die—but as far as regards coast defence.

From five miles out at sea (I have seen a test of her “fortified” ports) a ship of the power of H. M. S. “Collingwood” (they haven’t run her on a rock yet) would wipe out any or every town from San Francisco to Long Branch; and three first-class ironclads would account for New York, Bartholdi’s Statue and all. ""


Ruyard Kipling - - - will have to add 'snarky' to my Kipling list of atributes ---

Peace.................

Answer 2

Margret Thatcher?



g-day!