140 OUR FIRST FRIGATES. 



cost of a frigate of from eight hundred to twelve hundred tons. His figures show 

 £23 1 6s. 9d. per ton. 



On January 2, 1794, the House of Representatives passed a resolution — 



"That a naval force adequate to the protection of the commerce of the United 

 States, against the Algerine corsairs, ought to be provided." 



A committee, of which Mr. Thomas Fitzsimons was chairman, was appointed to 

 report. The Secretary of War sent to this committee on January 4 the estimates 

 made in 1790 for building and equipping frigates, and also the estimate made by 

 Samuel Hodgdon. Two weeks later the committee reported that in view of the size 

 of the naval force of the Algerines they would recommend that four ships of 44 guns 

 each and two ships of 24 guns each would be sufficient to protect the commerce of the 

 United States ; that the cost of this force would amount to $600,000, and that the an- 

 nual expense of maintenance would be $247,960. The committee further proposed 

 the levying of certain additional duties to pay for this armament. Closely following 

 this the first bUl to create a navy passed Congress and was approved on March 

 27. Its preamble recognizes the considerations which induced its passage in the 

 following words: "Whereas, the depredations committed by the Algerine cor- 

 sairs on the commerce of the United States, render it necessary that a naval force 

 should be provided for its protection — Be it, therefore, enacted," etc. The law pro- 

 vided by purchase or building for four ships to carry forty- four guns and two ships 

 to carry thirty-six guns each. The appropriation made available was $688,888.82, 

 but it was provided "that if a peace shall take place between the United States 

 and the Regency of Algiers no further proceeding shall be had under the Act." 



The War Department made immediate preparations. The letter-book shows 

 that Joshua Humphreys, of Philadelphia, at that time the seat of the National Gov- 

 ernment, was verbally asked to make calculations of materials and prices. On April 

 I, 1794, John Hackett, of Salisbury, Mass., the builder of the Alliance of the Revo- 

 lution, was asked to come to Philadelphia for the purpose of giving his advice. On 

 April 21 the Secretary of the Treasury was notified that the President had decided 

 that the 44-gun frigates should be built one each in Boston, New York, Philadel- 

 phia and Portsmouth, Virginia, and the 36-gun frigates one each in Baltimore and 

 Charleston, S. C. The molds for the timbers were "preparing and nearly finished." 

 It appears to have been the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to take charge of 

 the purchase of materials, and Joshua Humphreys' estimate, giving a complete list 

 of the varieties and sizes of timber and plank for a frigate of 147- foot keel, 43-foot 

 beam, 14- foot hold, 6 feet 9 inches between decks and 7-foot waist was sent to the 

 Treasury Department. It was suggested that the live oak and red cedar be obtained 

 from the islands of Georgia and that the vessels be constructed under the direc- 

 tion of agents. No decision had been reached on building by contract, though Gen- 

 eral Knox, the Secretary of War, says : "I should find great satisfaction in a con- 

 tract if one upon solid price could be obtained." Several other estimates were made 



