SOME UNPUBLISHED FACTS ABOUT THEIR CONSTRUCTION. 145 



agreed not to molest American shipping in consideration of an annual payment to 

 him by the United States and other conditions. This treaty was duly forwarded to 

 the United States and the President at once called the attention of Congress to the 

 fact that, in accordance with the existing law, no further progress could be made in 

 building the frigates, peace with Algiers having been concluded. 



In response to inquiries Congress was informed that it was estimated that 

 $453,272 would be necessary to complete the frigates in addition to the original ap- 

 propriation of $688,888.82. The letter-book also contains under date of January 20, 

 1796, a statement of the quantity of materials most essential for building the frigates 

 for the service of the United States, the quantity of each article actually delivered 

 into the navy yards and what was deficient, and an account of the moneys already 

 expended. Congress, on April 20, passed an Act authorizing the President to con- 

 tinue the construction and equipment of two of the frigates of 44 guns and one of 

 the frigates of 36 guns, and appropriating for this purpose the unexpended balance 

 of the original appropriation intended for the six frigates, and also the sum of 

 $80,000 which had been appropriated on June 9, 1794, for the provisional equipment 

 of galleys, but no part of which had been expended. This action discontinued the 

 work on the other three frigates, and it will be seen that at this early date Congress 

 failed to recognize the needs of the country, and by a half-and-half policy incurred 

 in the end greater expense, and less efficiency. The Secretary of War immediately 

 issued orders stopping all operations on the ships building at New York, Ports- 

 mouth, N. H., and Norfolk, and steps were taken to sell the perishable material at 

 these places. Such materials as could be used in the frigates whose construction was 

 to be continued were ordered shipped to them, and the work at Boston, Philadelphia 

 and Baltimore was ordered expedited. By the summer of 1796 a portion of the 

 guns were received, proved and accepted. 



It appears also that the action of Congress in discontinuing the work on three 

 of the frigates cut off at the same time the pay of Captains Dale, Seaver and Tal- 

 bot, of Naval Constructors Fox, Cheeseman and Hackett, and of Naval Agents 

 Blagge, Pennock and Sheaffe. The officers at these places were directed to make 

 suitable provision for the proper storing of such timber and materials as were not 

 perishable and for the protection of the keels and frames of the three ships. Naval 

 Constructor Fox was directed to visit the yards at New York and Portsmouth, N. H., 

 to inventory the materials and inspect the arrangements which had been made for 

 the proper preservation of the work already done. 



The letter-book, in August, 1796, contains the first mention of the building of a 

 frigate "for the Mediterranean service." Proposals were asked for a 36-gun frigate 

 and Mr. James Hackett, of Portsmouth, N. H., appears to have been the lowest 

 bidder. He was accordingly awarded the contract on condition that the vessel be 

 delivered complete in ten months ; that the Government would furnish the timber, 

 plank, etc., which it had in store, at a valuation, and that the United States should 

 appoint an inspector of the work. This frigate was, under the agreement with the 

 Dey of Algiers, destined as a part of the price which the United States agreed to pay 



