Letterbook

Letter to the Secretary at War on expeditures of Naval appropriations

Truxtun discusses frigate construction with McHenry. He anticipated that the costs of the three frigates would be immense. Notes that he advised against building of naval armament to the southward of Philadelphia. Secretary Knox indicated that he believed that ships built to the southward would cost 25 percent more, but President Washington was willing to experiment in order to ascertain where ships could be built under most favorable terms. President also wanted to distribute money generally throughout the union. Goes on to say that Baltimore was not a good place for ship building. He had no choice of artificers, and laborers were scarce and indolent; prices too high. The master builder [Stodder], intended to make the most of the job by dragging it out, and declared he would never build another frigate. Truxtun proposed an alteration in authority, to no avail. Says that he saved the United States money, and never derived any advantage from ship building. Truxtun notes that he was not hesitant to challenge the agents in matters of accounts. Speaks highly of Sterrett; less so about Stodder. Truxtun denies mishandling public monies; claims that David Stodder owes money to the United States.

1798

05

20

Baltimore

James McHenry

Captain Thomas Truxtun

General Knox

Mr. Pickering

the President

David Stodder

Mr. Sterett

Mr. Livingston

chairman of committee

David Stodder

naval agent

congress

Mr. Cole

carpenter

rigger

joiner

Issac Garretson

shipyard clerk

master builder

naval constructor

naval supervisor

Baltimore

Chesapeake

Philadelphia

Fells Point

USS Constellation

USS Constitution

keel

frigate

blacksmith shop

costs of building frigates

second wopping

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