146 OUR FIRST FRIGATES. 



to insure the safety of our commerce. The Secretary of the Treasury estimated the 

 whole expense of fulfilling the treaty at $992,463.25. The cost of the frigate in- 

 cluded hi this sum was put at $99,727. To build this frigate much of the timber 

 destined for the three vessels which Congress had decided not to continue, and which 

 had been procured after many difficulties from the finest stock in the country, was 

 sent to Portsmouth by direction of the Secretary of War. 



The first mention of the famous figurehead of the vessel afterwards named the 

 Constitution is found in a letter from the Secretary of War to the Secretary of the 

 Treasury on September 20, 1796, in which he says: — 



"Mr. John Skillen of Boston has been mentioned to me by Mr. Rush as a quali- 

 fied artist to undertake the carving of the head or figure for the frigate building at 

 that town. As it is proper that this work should be immediately commenced, you will 

 be pleased to give such orders as may be necessary on the occasion. There is a draw- 

 ing of the figure (a Hercules) now preparing which I shall send forward to Mr. 

 Skillen as soon as finished." 



An interesting sidelight on the proving of guns is given in a letter of September 

 27. The Secretary of War writes : — 



"I believe the best explanation relative to the proving by water will be to give 

 Mr. Hughes a more detailed view of the mode in which the experiment will be di- 

 rected to be made. The object of the water proof is to discover whether there are 

 any holes which penetrate through the sides of the cannon. For this purpose the 

 examiners will be instructed, after the cannon have undergone the proof by powder, 

 to place them upon a thick piece of timber so as they may be easily made to turn 

 upon it. The touchhole will be stopped with a wooden peg colored with tallow. The 

 cannon will then be raised, and the chace surrounded with linen, so that any water 

 which may fall down the sides on filling the bore shall not be confounded with the 

 drops that may filter through the metal, and with the same view the water will be 

 poured into the cavity by means of the spout of a watering pot. The water will be 

 then pressed upon by a rammer covered with thick cloth so as to fill exactly the muz- 

 zle of the cannon. During this operation the exterior will be attentively watched to 

 see whether any water passes through the metal. If the least filtration appears, the 

 cannon will be refused." 



It is perhaps not surprising that the early records of our army and navy show 

 many gun explosions. 



In November, 1796, the Secretary of War urges Naval Constructor Stodder, at 

 Baltimore, to push the work with more expedition, as the other two frigates show 

 greater progress. 



I have been unable to find any data showing how the first frigates came to re- 

 ceive their names. The letter-book is silent on this subject and the first mention 



