APPENDIX. 



Note A. 

 STEAM FRIGATE. 



Report of Henry Rutgers, Samuel L. Mitchel, and TnoMAs Morris, the Commissioners super- 

 intending the construction of a steam vessel of war, to the Secretary of the Navy. 



Niw York, Drcrmbtr 28(A, 1815. 



Sir: 



The war which was terminated by the treaty of Ghent, afforded, during its short continu- 

 ance, a glorious display of the valor of the United States by land and by sea — it made them much better 

 known to foreign nations, and, what is of much greater importance, it contributed to make them better 

 acquainted with themselves — it excited new enterprises — it educed latent talents — it stimulated to exertions 

 unknown to our people before. 



A long extent of coast was exposed to an enemy, powerful above every other on the ocean. His 

 commanders threatened to lay waste our country with fire and sword, and, actually, in various instances, 

 carried their menaces into execution. It became necessary, for our defense, to resist, by every practicable 

 method, such a formidable foe. 



It was conceived, by a most ingenious and enterprising citizen, that the power of Steam could be 

 employed to propel a floating battery, carrying heavy guns, to the destruction of any hostile force that 

 should hover on the shores, or enter the ports of our Atlantic frontier. The perfect and admirable success 

 of his project for moving boats containing travelers and baggage by the same elastic agent, opened the way 

 to its employment for carrying warriors and the apparatus for fighting. 



165 



172 BULLETIN 240: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 



