LETTER AND REPORTS OF THE SECRETARY AT WAR, TO THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO ENQUIRE INTO THE NAVAL EQUIPMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. *Published by the order of the House of Representatives, the 2d March, 1796.* WAR OFFICE, January 20, 1796. SIR, I HAVE the honour to send herewith, for the information of the committee to whom was committed the report on the frigates; the best returns of materials provided, and yet wanting, that can be formed, together with an account of the monies expended, and the sum necessary to complete their construction and equipment, exclusively of men and provisions—this sum being estimated at 453,272 dollars. I am, very reſpectfully, Sir, Your obedient servant, TIMOTHY PICKERING. Honourable JOSIAH PARKER, Eſq. [ 3 ] No. I. REPORT, &c. *agreeable to a requeſt of a Committee of the Houſe of Repreſentatives of the United States, appointed to enquire into the State of the Naval Equipment,* viz. To the firſt enquiry: I am of opinion that, on the moſt minute calculation that I can poſſibly make, or procure, from a general conſultation of the different perſons concerned in the building and equipment of the frigates; that their actual coſt when completed, with ordnance and ordnance ſtores, including powder, &c. &c. (but without being proviſioned or manned) will be 120 dollars per ton. That the four 44 gun ſhips will tonnage, according to the new mode of meaſurement adopted by the carpenters of this port, 6852 tons, and that the two ſhips of 36 guns will tonnage 2666 tons. Conſequently the ſix frigates will meaſure 9518 tons, which at the rate of 120 dollars aforeſaid, will coſt Dols. 1,142,160. Deduct appropriation made by a former act of Congreſs for building the ſaid frigates, &c. excluſive of 80,000 dollars, appropriated for gallies, &c. - 688,888. Further proviſion neceſſary to complete the ſix frigates for ſea, according to above calculation, manning and proviſions excepted, - - - 453,272. In the accompanying paper, No. 2, is an account of all monies diſburſed, or paid to the different agents and purveyor of ſupplies, including the ſum of dols. remitted to our miniſter in England, for the purpoſe of purchaſing copper and ſundry other materials; and will be accounted for by them reſpectively. No. 3 will ſhew the materials on hand; and No. 4 ſuch as are ſtill wanting in the yards and ſtores; many of which are procured and will be ſpeedily received. No. 5 is an eſtimate of the farther ſum ſuppoſed to be neceſſary to completely equip one 44 and one 36 gun frigate, if the others ſhould be diſcontinued. From the preſent arrangements that are made, and apparent proſpect, it is expected that the ſix frigates may be built, launched, and completely equip in the courſe of the preſent year; and that one 44 and one 36 may be completed with great eaſe by the month of November next at farthest. The foregoing is at the requeſt of the Secretary of War, made out and ſubmitted for his inſpection and reviſion, by his very humble ſervants, (Signed) TENCH FRANCIS, *Purveyor.* THOMAS TRUXTUN. JOSHUA HUMPHREYS, *Navy Conſtructor.* JOSIAH FOX, *Navy Conſtructor.* PHILADELPHIA, 13*th* January, 1796. [ 4 ] No. II. *Statement of the Application of Monies Appropriated for the Uſe of the Naval Department.* | Date. | No. of Warrant. | To whom paid. | For what purpoſe advanced. | Dols. cts. | |---|---|---|---|---| | 1794. | | | | | | July 22 | 3899 | Gurney & Smith | Naval agents, Philadelphia | 5,000. | | — 26 | 3915 | Samuel Meredith | Treaſurer—Paymast. War Dep. | 5,000. | | Aug. 14 | 5954 | John Blagge | Naval agent at New-York | 5,000. | | — | 3955 | Samuel and Jo. Sterett | Naval agents at Baltimore | 5,000. | | — | 3956 | Henry Jackſon | Naval agent at Boſton | 5,000. | | Sept. 30 | 4089 | William Pennock | Naval agent at Norfolk | 4,000. | | — | 4091 | Nicholas Filh | Agent for purchaſing ſupplies | 3,300. | | — | 4095 | John Haberlham | Agent for purchaſing materials for the Naval Department | 500. | | Oct. 14 | 4154 | Jacob Sheafe | Naval agent at Portſmouth | 5,000. | | Nov. 26 | 4280 | S. & J. Sterett | - | 4,000. | | — 28 | 4290 | Jed. Huntingdon | Agent for purchaſing ſupplies | 3,300. | | Dec. 15 | 4322 | Gurney & Smith | - | 5,100. | | — | 4324 | S. & J. Sterett | - | 2,208. 97 | | — 26 | 4329 | Ditto | - | 5,000. | | — 31 | 4345 | Henry Jackſon | - | 5,000. | | — | 4359 | Daniel Stevens | Agent for purchaſing materials | 500. | | — | 4361 | William Pennock | - | 500. | | — | 4372 | John Haberlham | - | 500. | | 1795. | | | | | | Jan. 21 | 4474 | John Blagge | - | 3,000. | | — 23 | 4476 | Samuel Meredith | On account of bills of exchange purchaſed to be remitted to Thomas Pinckney,Eſq. towards paying for certain articles for the frigates | 28,800. | | — 26 | 4481 | Henry Jackſon | - | 3,000. | | — 30 | 4482 | Eliſha Sagourney | Agent for John T. Morgan, agent for procuring timber on account of his pay | 600. | | — 31 | 4492 | Jacob Sheafe | - | 3,000. | | Feb. 16 | 4544 | Samuel Breck | Agent for the proprietors of the ſail cloth manufactory at Boſton | 12,000. | | Mar. 24 | 4676 | Tench Francis | Purveyor of public ſupplies | 10,000. | | — 27 | 4689 | Henry Jackſon | - | 4,000. | | — | 4703 | Gurney & Smith | - | 8,000. | | — | 4710 | John Haberlham | - | 1,000. | | — | 4715 | S. & J. Sterett | - | 1,500. | | — | 4716 | William Pennock | - | 3,600. | | April 7 | 4749 | Tench Francis | - | 5,000. | *Carried forward,* - 144,998. 97 [ 5 ] | Date. | No. of Warrant. | To whom paid. | For what purpoſe advanced. | Dols. cts. | |---|---|---|---|---| | 1795. | | | | | | Apr. 29 | 4827 | Samuel Breck | *Amount brought forward,* | 144,998. 97 | | — | 4832 | John Blagge | - | 5,000. | | May 2 | 4840 | William Pennock | - | 4,000. | | — | 4846 | Ditto | - | 5,000. | | — | 4847 | John Haberlham | - | 1,000. | | — | 4856 | Gurney & Smith | - | 1,500. | | — 5 | 4857 | S. & J. Sterett | - | 5,000. | | — 13 | 4876 | Henry Jackſon | - | 3,000. | | June 2 | 4936 | Ditto | - | 8,000. | | — | 4937 | S. & J. Sterett | - | 5,000. | | — | 4938 | Jacob Sheafe | - | 3,000. | | — | 4939 | Jed. Huntington | - | 8,000. | | — | 4942 | Gurney and Smith | - | 2,000. | | — 18 | 4978 | Tench Francis | - | 4,000. | | — 23 | 4990 | Samuel Meredith | On account of bills of exchange remitted to Mr. Pinckney | 5,000. | | — 24 | 4995 | S. & J. Sterett | - | 72,000. | | — 30 | 5028 | John Blagge | - | 6,000. | | — | 5048 | John Haberlham | - | 7,000. | | Aug. 25 | 5198 | William Pennock | - | 2,000. | | — | 5199 | Henry Jackſon | - | 8,000. | | — | 5200 | Jacob Sheafe | - | 11,000. | | — | 5201 | S. & J. Sterett | - | 10,000. | | — | 5202 | Jed. Huntington | - | 4,000. | | Sept. 18 | 5203 | Ditto | - | 4,000. | | — | 5283 | Ditto | - | 3,000. | | — 22 | 5293 | Tench Francis | - | 450. | | — 30 | 5309 | Henry Jackſon | - | 10,000. | | — | 5310 | S. & J. Sterett | - | 6,000. | | — | 5311 | John Blagge | - | 3,000. | | — | 5312 | Solomon Townſend | On account of a contract for ſupplying five anchors | 4,200. | | — | 5327 | John Haberlham | - | 1,200. | | — | 5328 | Ditto | - | 2,500. | | — | 5329 | Ditto | - | 300. | | Oct. 9 | 5383 | Samuel Meredith | On account of bills of exchange remitted to W. Allen Deas, Eſq. chargé des affaires at London | 5,000. | | — 15 | 5304 | S. & J. Sterett | - | 11,786. 66 | | Nov. 9 | 5467 | Samuel Breck | - | 3,000. | | — 14 | 5482 | S. & J. Sterett | - | 3,500. | | — 17 | 5490 | Tench Francis | - | 8,000. | | — 20 | 5497 | S. & J. Sterett | - | 8,000. | | — 21 | 5498 | Tench Francis | - | 8,920. 67 | | — 25 | 5503 | Ditto | - | 17,000. | | Dec. 4 | 5528 | Ditto | - | 5,000. | | — 11 | 5558 | Ditto | - | 6,000. | | — 15 | 5568 | Samuel Meredith | - | 2,400. | | — 22 | 5573 | Gurney & Smith | Balance of their account as agents | 1,000. | | — 23 | 5579 | Samuel Meredith | - | 1,514. 70 | | — 30 | 5597 | S. & J. Sterett | - | 16,500. | | — | — | — | - | 2,000. | TOTAL——Dols. 458,971. B [ 6 ] The appropriations for the Naval Department, excluſive of 80,000 dollars, granted for gallies, amount to 688,888. 82 The expenditures to the 31ſt of December, 1795, - - 458,971. Balance unexpended 1ſt January, 1796, Dols. 229,917 82 *Note.* There has been no expenditure ſince the 1ſt January, 1796. *Summary of the foregoing Statement.* Dols. cts. Advanced to Jacob Sheafe, naval agent, Portſmouth, - 26,000. ——— Henry Jackſon, ditto, Boſton, - - 47,000. ——— John Blagge, ditto, New-York, - - 23,200. ——— Gurney & Smith, ditto, Philadelphia, - 28,614. 70 ——— S. & J. Sterett, ditto, Baltimore, - 55,629. 64 ——— William Pennock, ditto, Norfolk, - 22,600. ——— Samuel Meredith, paymafter to the war department, 22,500. ——— Tench Francis, purveyor of public ſupplies, 68,400. ——— Jed. Huntington, agent for procuring ſupplies, 12,750. ——— Daniel Stevens, ditto, - - - 500. ——— Nicholas Filh, ditto, - - 3,300. ——— John Haberlham, ditto, - - 13,500. ——— John T. Morgan, agent for procuring timber, 600. ——— Samuel Breck, agent for the proprietors of the ſail cloth manufactory at Boſton, 20,500. ——— Solomon Townſend, on account of a contract for ſupplying five anchors, 1,200. Remitted to Mr. Pinckney, miniſter plenipotentiary of the United States at London, 100,800. ——— William Allen Deas, chargé des affaires of the United States at London, 11,786. 66 Dols. 458,971. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, REGISTER'S OFFICE, *9th January, 1796.* JOSEPH NOURSE, *Regiſter.* [ 7 ] *Statement of Sundry Remittances made to the under-mentioned Agents for the Naval Department, which have not yet been covered by Warrants.* 1795. Decem. 31. John Blagge, for frigate at New-York, - - Dols. 3,000. —— —— S. & J. Sterett, ditto, Baltimore, - 2,000. —— —— John Haberlham, for procuring materials, - 2,000. —— —— Ditto, ditto, - - - 4,000. —— —— S. & J. Sterett, for frigate at Baltimore, - 2,000. Dols. 13,000. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, *January 11, 1795.* L. WOOD, *P. Clk.* N.º III. and IV. *A Statement of the Quantity of Materials moſt eſſential for building the FR*[igates, and] *The Quantity of each article actually delivered into the NAVY YAR*[ds.] [columns extend beyond page edge] [Complex multi-column table. Column headers partially cut off at right edge of page. Columns visible include various lumber and material types. Rows are as follows:] Quantity of materials required for each Frigate of 44 guns. 714 | 518 | 130 | 31 | 34 | 33 | 99 | 36 | 35 | 47 | 18 | 6 | 95,000 | 1,500 | 7,000 | 7,000 | 7,000 [columns continue beyond page edge] *Frigate of Forty four Guns, building at PHILADELPH*[IA.] Materials actually delivered into the Navy Yard. 104 | 14 | 11 | [blank] | [blank] | [blank] | 31 | 11 | 14 | 84 | 77 | 17 | 17 | 11 | 12,010 | 3192 | 4063 | 2358 | 2361 [columns continue beyond page edge] Materials yet wanting to compleat the requiſitions. 170 | 478 | 131 | 62 | [undecipherable] | 9 | 62 | 15 | 46 | 88 | 30 | 31 | 7,041 | 1590 | 1317 | 1694 | 1169 [columns continue beyond page edge] *Frigate of Forty four Guns, building at NEW YORK.* Materials already delivered into the Navy Yard. 69 | 8 | [undecipherable: probable reading 1 or 2 columns with note "this is to be done at the frigate with the materials from"] | 1 | 2 | 7 [undecipherable] | 3374 | [blank] | [undecipherable: 43,007] feet of pine plank, the timber [undecipherable: not specified] Materials yet wanting to compleat the requiſitions. 225 | 597 | 131 | 61 | [undecipherable] | 48 | 63 | 44 | [undecipherable] | 13196 | 2390 | 6436 [columns continue beyond page edge] *Frigate of Forty four Guns, building at BOSTON.* Materials already delivered into the Navy Yard. [undecipherable: few entries visible] | [undecipherable] 14,624 feet of white oak plank, of various forms, not ſpecified in the returns. | [undecipherable: (Col's) feet of pine plank, &c. not ſpecified.] Materials yet wanting to compleat the requiſitions. 530 | 81 | 34 | 33 | 21 | 79 | 4 [columns continue beyond page edge] *Frigate of Forty four Guns, building at NORFOLK.* Materials already delivered [into the Navy Yard.] 415 | 33 | [blank] | 24 | 24 | [blank] | [undecipherable] 46,672 feet of white oak timber for various purpoſes, ſome part of which is [undecipherable: appropriated for ceilings, ledges, &c.] | 6 | 6 | 19,000 | 2,150 | 7,000 | 55,000 | 7,640 Materials yet wanting to compleat the requiſitions. 300 | 495 | 131 | 62 | [undecipherable] | 33 | [undecipherable] | 6 | 6 | 10,000 | 2,500 | 7,000 | [undecipherable] | 648 | [columns continue beyond page edge] *Frigate of thirty ſix Guns, building at BALTIMORE.* Quantity of materials required for each frigate of 36 guns. 765 | 396 | 81 | 49 | 29 | 39 | 29 | 24 | 31 | [undecipherable] | [undecipherable] | [undecipherable] Materials actually delivered [into the Navy Yard.] [undecipherable] | [undecipherable] | [undecipherable] | [undecipherable] | [undecipherable] | [undecipherable] | 15,378 | 8,193 | [blank] | 665 | [columns continue beyond page edge] Materials yet wanting to compleat the requiſitions. 331 | 341 | 148 | 21 | [undecipherable] | 61 | 63 | 28 | 47 | 18 | 6 | 6,621 | 2,470 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 519 | 620 [columns continue beyond page edge] *Frigate of thirty ſix Guns, building at PORTSMOUTH, (N.* [H.]) Materials already delivered into the Navy Yard. [undecipherable table entries] | [undecipherable: note about pine plank and timber] | [undecipherable] | [blank] | [blank] | [blank] | [blank] | [blank] Materials yet wanting to compleat the requiſitions. [undecipherable] | 148 | 81 | [undecipherable] | [undecipherable] | 72 | [undecipherable] | 30 | [undecipherable] | 4,634 | [undecipherable] | 3,107 | [undecipherable] | 6,486 [columns continue beyond page edge] [ 11 ] No. V. ONE frigate of 44 guns, being 1713 tons, and one of 36 guns, 1333 tons, making 3046 tons, at 120 dollars per ton, will coſt, excluſive of proviſions and men, as aforeſaid, dols. 365,520.—What proportion of this ſum is already expended and contracts made for, cannot immediately be well aſcertained, as many of the materials have been purchaſed in common with thoſe for the other frigates, in Europe; accounts of which have not as yet been received, and the ſame difficulty ariſes with reſpect to the live oak being engaged for the ſhips generally; but it is judged that the balance of monies already appropriated for the naval equipment, will be ſufficient to complete the two ſhips above mentioned, ſhould the other four be ſuſpended; but if the ſix frigates are carried on in the manner contemplated, the farther ſum of dols. 453,272, as ſtated in No. 1, will be neceſſary to carry the whole buſineſs into full effect. WAR OFFICE, *January* 20, 1796. TIMOTHY PICKERING. D