Baltimore 3^d March 1797 Honorable James McHenry Esq^re Secretary of War Sir Agreeable to your desire, I have now the honor of transmitting you a list of Such Officers & men as I consider necessary to keep employed, for the care and preservation of the frigate Now building [undecipherable] this City: that is to say after she is launched Completed and the master Carpenter and other artificers are discharged, and the Ship laid up — If the Chinese System is not to be adopted, and the United States and the people [undecipherable] continue their Commercial habits, of trading beyond the Sea, it is evident, that whenever two European powers are at War we Shall always be Subject to insult and depredation from their Public, and private Ships of war, unless we have a Navy to defend our rights, and Support the honor and dignity of our flag. But without Officers what can be expected from a Navy; the Ships cannot man themselves, Nor will the best of Soldiers answer as Substitutes for Seamen. This every man must be convinced of, that reads the Numerous accounts of British & French engagements at Sea, in which we find the former always victorious, not because they are a braver people, but on account of their knowing their duty as Seamen and Tacticians, Whereas the latter Nation is but little acquainted with either of them. Thus Sir it is evident that, if we are to have a Navy, we must make Officers to Manage the Navy and this can only be done by employing a few Ships of war, in cruising about in times of peace & by manning the [undecipherable], for in a very few years more there will scarcely be an officer fit for Service to be found who required any practical knowledge, during our Revolution, and to introduce foreigners into our Navy would appear to me a very dangerous policy. For the above reasons, I Should be glad to see active and respectable men appointed as Lieutenants and Midshipmen, in order that they might be brought on to learn the art of Marine Science and to Supply the place of those, who in a few years will be incapable of this art of Service. But knowing the pusillanimity of Congress, and Supposing the Executive will let the Business in question remain in Status quo, until the next Session, I have only made out a list of Such Officers as are Necessary to take Care of the Ship, Stores and Other public property within the Yard— It is always considered that even Small Merchant Ships, Suffer more from being laid up in port the under the eye of the Owner, then when in actual Service, and I am convinced, the fact is so, Since the necessity of having proper people to take Care of these Ships when afloat is very Obvious. This frigate while laying in Ordinary, will be moored at the end of the Wharf Where She is now building (with two anchors out) Near to which are all the Magazines of Stores, Containing the articles of equipment, Which are under Care of the Clerk, and Should in My Opinion Continue So, as he appears to me a faithfull, honest, diligent [undecipherable] and Careful Young Man [If] the Arrangement [undecipherable] offer, meets with your approbation. I wish as Soon as the frigate is launched Order the Clerk and Petty Officers [undecipherable] and prior to [undecipherable] employed, to take [undecipherable] their abode [undecipherable] — keep watch on board, and by that means they can [undecipherable] the Store houses and all the Other public property within the Yard as well as the Ship: But while every thing that respects the frigates is now in Motion, [undecipherable] certainly be most economical to Completely finish them, and provide every necessary article required for their equipment, except provisions, in order that they may be ready for any emergency. When the Contract was Made with Stoddert for his grounds, that now enclosed as a public Yard, and on which are Several buildings for the accommodation of the Materials, it was agreed to pay him for the Said lot now enclosed, a Rent of four hundred dollars per annum, during the pleasure of the Government. I have therefore made a Calculation of the probable expense, that will attend this Ship, while laying in Ordinary, including the Said rent. Rent of Navy Yard per annum . . . . . . $400 One Captain 75 [pr] M^o & his rations per day . . 1338 One Clerk to attend the Yard and Ship . . . . 600 One Boatswain per Month to find himself $30 } One Carpenter ditto . . . ditto . . . 30 } is per annum 1680 One Cook . . . . ditto . . . ditto . . 20 } Three Seamen each at $20 ditto ditto . . . 60 } Paints, oil, brushes, brooms, buckets, wind Sails } per annum 982 [moorings] [undecipherable] & Sundries } [undecipherable] Dollars 5000 also I have Contemplated that the persons employed to attend, watch and take Care of the Ship while in Ordinary Should find themselves provisions &c, as a Cook will be Necessary to draw their victuals on board and Such a person may also be useful, in aiding the others in doing the various duties of the Ship: Otherwise four Seamen would be necessary instead of three, which amounts to the Same thing. The expense [I've] Stated will perhaps appear high to you, but unless proper people are employed, their will always be a waste and plunder of the public property, and I know of no way of Sparing this expense, but by Constructing the Ships after they are built at one place, and then it might be curtailed very Considerably from the foregoing Calculation, & many Other Savings Made to the United States. In My report to you in December last, I Stated that if the winter was not unfavorable to us, that this frigate would be launched in May ensuing; but as two months has been lost, owing to the Severity of the weather, She cannot well be put afloat before July, unless Some extraordinary efforts are made, and the workmen Augmented: Therefore [undecipherable] will be pleased to refer to my Said report and add, that the bottom is now all planked except two Streaks; the upper works the Same all but two Streaks: The orlop and lower deck beams all in and Mostly knee'd the other decks beams ready. You will then be Complete Master of the true State of this frigate: Stoddert however will Send you a report by mondays Mail, Agreeable to your request. I have the honor to be very resp^y Truly Your Obedient & humble Servant Thomas Truxtun