Recommendations for Construction of Ships to Form a Navy
Item
Type
Type Undetermined
Title
Recommendations for Construction of Ships to Form a Navy
Description
Humphreys believes that the United States should have a Navy. He believes that the US Navy would need to consider carefully what sort of ships would comprise it, given the nature of the coast and harbors. Frigates would be the first object, at least 150 feet keel, built of red cedar and live oak, with decks of Carolina pine. The frigates should carry 32 or 24 pound guns, because 12 or 18 pound guns would not answer; US ships need to be capable of combat if there is a war with European powers, especially Great Britain. Although some people might ask whether two small ships are better and more cost-effective than one large one, Humphreys is of the opinion that a large one is best.
short description
Describes a style of frigate to establish a US Navy
year created
1793
month created
01
day created
06
author
sent from location
Southward
recipient
note
Published in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol 40, No. 4 (1916), 387-88.
notable person/group
Robert Morris
Joshua Humphreys
Navy
joyners
joiners
boatbuilders
painters
plumbers
carvers
coopers
block makers
master makers
riggers
sail makers
chandlers
Great Britain
Algerians
notable location
Southwark
coasts
harbours
harbors
Europe
notable item/thing
navy
ships
rates
situation and depth of water
frigates
blowing weather
double deck ships
light winds
evade coming to action
ships of three decks
calm weather
150 feet keel
32 pounders
24 pounders
main gun deck
12 pounders
quarter deck
scantling
red cedar
live oak
carpenters tonage
carpenters bill
smith
anchors
rigging
sail cloth
suits
candlers bill
large sum of money
best materials
beams
Carolina pine
lower futtocks and knees
timbers
framed and bolted together
18 pounders
European War
equal combat
war
protection of our trade
notable phrase
From the present appearance of affairs, I believe it is time this country was possessed of a Navy
ships built on these principles will render those of an Enemy in a degree useless
if we should be obliged to take a part in the present European War, or at a future day we should be dragged into a War with any powers of the old continent, especially great Britain
several questions will arise, whether will one large or two small frigates contribute most to the protection of our trade or which will cost the least sum of money .... for my part I am decidedly of opinion, the large ones will answer best
document number
1793010615000
page start
1
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Printed Versions | [unknown] |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Area File of the Naval Records Collection, 1775-1910. (RG45) (M625) | B: 11 (Area 7), F: 1791-1797 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Joshua Humphreys | Southward | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Robert Morris | [unknown] | [n/a] |