11 



There Avere but six larger ships in the navy, viz : the United 

 States, Constitution, Philadelphia, Chesapeake, Congress, and 

 Constellation. " The Essex," says Cooper, in his Naval His- 

 tory, " was the only ship in the navy that was properly rated 

 as a thirty-two, having a main-deck battery of 26 twelves, 

 though she was a large vessel of her class." 



The rigging and equipping of the frigate, was executed in 

 the same prompt and thorough manner which had marked her 

 construction. The cordage was manufactured at the three 

 ropewalks then in the place, each taking a third of the whole 

 job. Capt. Jonathan Harraden, a distinguished private naval 

 commander in the Revolution, made the rigging for the main- 

 mast, at his factory, in Brown street. Joseph Vincent fitted 

 out the foremast, and Thomas Briggs, the mizzen mast, at their 

 factoriBs, located near each other, at the foot of the com- 

 mon. As indicating the spirit of the enterprize, it is remem- 

 bered that when the huge cables were completed, they were 

 conveyed to the frigate with due formality. The workmen 

 took them upon their shoulders, and headed by a drum and 

 fife, marched in procession to the neck. Everything was done 

 in the spirit which creates the pomp and circumstance of war. 



The sails were made in the most careful manner, by Messrs. 

 Buffum and Howard, from duck manufactured expressly for 

 the purpose, at Mr. Daniel Rust's factory, in Broad street, 

 where the high school house now stands. The cloth was of a 

 superior quality, very nicely graduated in weight from the 

 lower to the higher sails. It was noticed that the frigate never 

 sailed so well afterward, as she did under this first suit of sails. 

 The cost of the Essex, with nearly twelve months provisions 

 and stores on board, is stated as follows, in the handwriting of 

 Capt. Waters, the agent in her construction : 



Abstract of Materials, wrought and univrougJit, for huilding and equipment, on 

 account of Essex Frigate. 



Constructor $921 54 



Building, carpenters' bill 26,616 64 



Iron work, blacksmith 8,371 94 



Cordage 10,075 03 



Painting and Plumbing 2,256 35 



Carving 410 00 



Duck for one complete suit of sails 3,731 74 



Anchors 1 ,081 92 



Copper bolts, &c 4,339 05 



Sailmakers, for making sails 730 24 



Hire of Tradesmen, &c 2,735 36 



J. W.'s account of sundries, Tchich includes | -.9 ^oq ni 

 spars, bolts, blocks, &c. j '' 



Commissions on ^73,993 72, at 2 per ct 1,479 87 



Amount carried over TTrr.TTrm . . $75,473 59 



