150 OUR FIRST FRIGATES. 



rigging, together with the other equipments, there is reason to conclude she can be 

 completely fitted for sea in one month after she is launched." 



These estimates of the further sums necessary to complete were added : — 



United States, at Philadelphia $64,820 



Constitution, at Boston 93,470 



Constellation, at Baltimore 79.414 



Total $236,704 



Balance unexpended of last appropriation $40,068 



To be provided 197,636 



During this summer the letter-book contains many entries relating to the pur- 

 chase of equipment and stores for the three ships, as well as for the frigate building 

 under contract at Portsmouth and destined as a present to the Dey of Algiers. On 

 July 7, the Secretary of War writes to Capt. T. Thompson who had been employed 

 to take the ship out to the Mediterranean : — 



"It being necessary to fix on a name for the frigate intended for the Dey of 

 Algiers before she sails from Portsmouth, I have, therefore, concluded to call her 

 the Crescent, which name you will be pleased to have inserted in her papers and other 

 documents. I have just received your favor of the 29th ultimo and I congratulate 

 you and Mr. Hackett on the safe launching of the frigate into her proper element." 



Congress, in June, 1797, passed a bill for the completing and manning of the 

 three frigates. It will be remembered that for some years the merchant vessels of 

 the United States had been subjected to vexations and spoliations committed by 

 corsairs and privateers of several of the European countries. The French in the 

 West Indies were the worst offenders, though there were many instances of the 

 seizure of our ships by the British and Spaniards. The public documents of the 

 period abound in references to these troubles. President Washington on many oc- 

 casions called the attention of Congress to these depredations and his successor. 

 President Adams, told Congress that a navy establishment would afford the only 

 adequate protection. Hence it is not surprising that we find the Secretary of War 

 using every effort to place the three frigates in commission and showing exasper- 

 ation at the continued delays, especially in the case of the Constellation building at 

 Baltimore. Some difficulty appears to have arisen over her launching, and Naval 

 Constructor Humphreys was ordered to Baltimore to assist Constructor Stodder in 

 making safe preparations. The frigates Constitution and Constellation were ordered 

 coppered before launching. Meanwhile the United States, which had evidently 

 received some slight damage in launching, had been repaired and was lying in the 

 stream taking on board her guns. Captain Barry was ordered to obtain a crew and 



