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11th Congress.]

No. 78.

[2d Session.

CONDITION OF THE NAVAL FORCE, AND THE APPLICATION OF APPROPRIATIONS MADE FOR THE NAVAL SERVICE AND MARINE CORPS.

COMMUNICATED TO CONGRESS, DECEMBER 5, 1809.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:

I now transmit a report of the Secretary of the Navy, containing statements from that Department, referred to in my message of the 29th ultimo.*

JAMES MADISON.

December 4, 1809.

Navy Department, December 1, 1809.

Sir:

I have the honor of transmitting to you, herewith, paper A, which is an exhibit of the vessels of war and gunboats at this time belonging to the Navy of the United States; distinguishing the number in commission prior to the passage of the act, entitled "An act authorizing the employment of an additional naval force," passed January 31, 1809. The number fitted out under that act; the whole number now in commission, and prepared for service, and the number in ordinary, and where.

By this paper it will be seen, that the act of 31st January, 1809, has been fully executed. The number of vessels of war and gun boats, now in commission, and the actual state of those not in commission, will also appear, it is hoped, in a satisfactory form.

Paper No. 1, which is an exhibit of the warrants drawn upon the appropriations made by the act of Congress of 3d March, 1809, for "repairs of vessels;" for contingent expenses; and for clothing of the marine corps, respectively.

Paper No. 2, which is an exhibit of the warrants drawn upon the sum of $150,000, transferred by your order, agreeably to the act of Congress, entitled "An act further to amend the several acts for the establishment and regulation of the treasury, war, and navy departments," passed, March 3, 1809, from the appropriation made by the appropriation act of 3d March, 1809, for "provisions" to that of "repairs of vessels."

Paper No. 3, which is an exhibit of the warrants drawn upon the sum of $25,000, transferred by your order, agreeably to the provisions of the act above recited, from the appropriation made by the appropriation act above recited, for "provisions," to that of "contingent expenses."

Paper No. 4, which is an exhibit of the warrants drawn upon the sum of $2,500, transferred by your order, agreeably to the provisions of the act above recited, from the appropriation made by the act above recited for "quartermasters' and barrack masters' stores for the corps of marines," to that of clothing for that corps.

The sum transferred in aid of the appropriation for "repairs of vessels," may appear large; but pursuing the spirit of the act of 31st January, 1809, it was determined that the repairs made should be thorough and complete. In doing this, the disbursements have certainly been heavy. The price of naval stores, greatly and suddenly enhanced, has greatly contributed to swell them to their present amount. One very consoling circumstance for these heavy disbursements, arises out of the fact, that all the vessels repaired, especially the frigates, have been so much improved in their armament, their other fitments, and their sailing, that the most experienced practical men pronounce them to be, at this time, greatly superior, in all respects, to what they were when first fitted out from the stocks.

The contingent expenses have also been unexpectedly great, arising principally from the very heavy disbursements at New Orleans.

The appropriation for marine clothing was found inadequate to the objects for which it was made, in consequence of the advanced price of cloths and woollens.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, sir, your most obedient,

PAUL HAMILTON.

The President of the United States.

* See Foreign Relations, No. 30, page 76.

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A.

Exhibit showing the slate and condition, at this time, of the vessels belonging to the Navy of the United States, and of the Gunboats.

Whole number
at this time
be
longing to the Navy of the
United States.

Rate.
Guns.

In commission
prior to the
passage of
the act of 31st
January, 1809.

Fitted out
under the
act of 31st January, 1809.

Whole number
now in com
mission,
and ready for
service.

In Ordinary.

In Ordinary at

REMARKS.

Frigate Constitution,

44

Constitution,

President,

Constitution,

Chesapeake,

Boston,

These frigates in ordinary, require repairs
before they can be sent to sea.

President,

44

Chesapeake,

United States,

President,

Congress,

Washington,

United States,

44

Wasp,

Essex,

United States,

Constellation,

Chesapeake,

36

Hornet,

John Adams,

Essex,

New York,

Congress,

36

Argus,

Syren,

John Adams,

Adams,

Constellation,

36

Bombs, Etna,

Vixen,

Wasp,

9 Gunboats,

New York,

32

& Vesuvius.

Nautilus,

Hornet,

13 do.

Charleston,

Three of these Gunboats have been put in
commission for the Georgia station.

Essex,

32

22 Gunboats at N. O.

Enterprise,

Syren,

4 do.

Wilmington, N. C.

Adams,

32

Revenge,

Argus,

21 do.

Norfolk,

One of these employed occasionally,
and fitted as a watering boat.

Ship John Adams,

20

Ferret,

Vixen,

10 do.

Baltimore,

All these Gunboats, in-ordinary, and in a state of preservation.

Wasp,

18

Nautilus,

20 do.

Philadelphia,

Brig Hornet,

18

Enterprise,

54 do.

New York,

Syren,

16

Revenge,

2 do.

Westerly, R. I.

Argus,

16

Ferret,

2 do.

Norwich, Con.

Vixen,

14

Bombs, Etna

1 do.

Boston,

Nautilus,

14

& Vesuvius.

9 do.

Portland,

22 Gunboats at N. ).

Schooner Enterprise,

12

1 do.

Lake Ontario, (This is Brig Oneida.)

Revenge,

12

2 do.

Lake Champlain,

Cutter Ferret,

10

Bomb, Spitfire,

Norfolk,

These bombs require repairs.

Brig Oneida, classed with Gunboats,

16

Vengeance,

New York

Bombs Etna,

Of the Gunboats at New Orleans, No. 13
has been condemned, and is now used as a
hulk; and Captain Porter, in a letter dated
August 25, 1809, observes, that five others,
viz: Nos. 14, 16, 17, 20, and 21, will, in all
probability, be condemned, as unfit for service, in the ensuing summer, having been built of raw materials.

Vesuvius,

Spitfire,

& Vengeance,

170 Gunboats, including Brig Oneida,

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No. 1.

Application of 445,000 dollars, appropriated for repairs of vessels by the act of the 3d of March, 1809.

Carpenters, sail-makers, blacksmiths, coopers, and including all workmen employed in repairing ships,

$95,435 93

Cordage, purchased at Washington,

81,179 91

Timber, ditto, ditto,

16,458 49

Kentledge, ditto, ditto,

4,610 53

Leather, hides, &c. purchased at Washington,

2,244 12

Oil, purchased at Washington,

2,150 56

Sundries, composing iron work done out of the yard, tar, pitch,
charcoal, spikes, nails, lead, bolts, &c. purchased at Washington, and used in repairing vessels,

12,525 67

PAID.

Bills drawn by the navy agent and master commandant at New Orleans, on account of repairs to gun vessels,

11,880 00

Bill drawn by Lieutenant Nicholson, for repairs to gunboats Nos. 5 and 58, at the Havana,

1,259 47

Bill drawn by James Morrison, navy agent Kentucky, for cordage,

3,255 50

Remitted to the following navy agents upon their requisitions, the expenditure of which
cannot, at this time, be ascertained, the accounts not being settled and adjusted by the accountant of the navy,
and in some cases not rendered to him, viz:

Samuel Storer, navy agent, Portland, Maine,

1,650 00

Francis Johonnot, navy agent Boston,

17,200 00

John Bullus, navy agent, New York,

33,900 00

John Stricker, navy agent, Baltimore,

86,072 76

George Harrison, navy agent, Philadelphia,

16,384 21

Theo. Armistead, navy agent, Norfolk,

30,500 00

N. Ingraham and Son, navy agents, Charleston, S. C.

28,292 85

$445,000 00

Navy Department, November 25, 1809.

PAUL HAMILTON, Secretary of the Navy.

Application of 150,000 dollars, appropriated for freight, contingent expenses, &c. by the act of March 3, 1809.

Freight, passage of seamen, &c.

$5,444 15

Officers' travelling expenses and extra allowances,

2,119 02

Cabin furniture for the ships,

1,303 07

Allowance for house rent,

341 65

Stationary, printing pay rolls, &c. for the ships,

2,419 44

Pilotage,

535 08

Expenses of officers attending rendezvous,

333 57

Candles,

965 99

Wood,

311 21

Building a powder house at Washington,

1,244 37

Fire buckets,

270 00

Ballast,

238 00

Armorers,

325 00

Making bags,

270 50

Chopped rye and straw for the oxen at the navy yard,

91 24

Bain and Webster, Providence, Bahama Islands, for saleage,

244 12

Sundries,

2,828 26

B. H. Latrobe, salary as superintendent of buildings,

500 00

Remitted the following navy agents, whose accounts
have not been settled by the accountant of the navy, and in some cases not received, viz:

Samuel Storer, navy agent, Portland, Maine,

2,300 00

Francis Johonnot, navy agent, Boston,

4,595 96

John Bullus, navy agent,New York,

11,200 00

George Harrison, navy agent, Philadelphia,

3,000 00

Samuel Hanson, of Samuel, Purser,

1,117 98

Theo. Armistead, navy agent, Norfolk,

12,000 00

N. Ingraham and Son, navy agents, Charleston, S. C.

16,100 00

James Morrison, navy agent, Kentucky, for insurance,

614 12

John Stricker, navy agent, Baltimore,

6,507 00

Keith Spence, navy agent, New Orleans, (bills drawn by him on
account of the arsenal, equipment of gunboats, and contingent fund,)

64,736 58

Melancthon T. Woolsey, brig, building on Lake Ontario,

7,700 00

Matthew Lyon, for half a barge, purchased of him by Captain Shaw,

343 69

$150,000 00

Navy Department, November 25, 1809.

PAUL HAMILTON, Secretary of the Navy.

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Application, in part, of $32,933 80, appropriated for clothing for the marine corps, by act of 3d March, 1809.

George Harrison,

Navy agent, Philadelphia,
remitted to him to purchase marine clothing,

$16,000 00

Tunis Craven,

Clothing ditto,

709 10

John Minchin,

Shoes for the marines,

782 50

Thomas Halliday, per order of Isaac O'Harra,

Making marine clothing,

66 00

Tunis Craven,

Materials for ditto,

8,034 58

John Minchin,

Shoes,

1,000 00

Tunis Craven,

Materials for marine clothing,

466 20

John Minchin,

Shoes,

501 25

Ditto,

Ditto,

1,000 00

James McKim,

Making clothing,

1,040 60

Nathaniel Ingraham and Son,

Navy agents, Charleston, S. C.

200 00

George Harrison,

Navy agent, Philadelphia,

1,000 00

John Minchin,

Shoes,

730 00

Tunis Craven,

Materials for marine clothing,

400 00

Ditto,

Ditto ditto,

632 50

Isaac O'Harra

Making marine clothing,

55 00

$32,617 73

Navy Department, November 25, 1809.

PAUL HAMILTON, Secretary of the Navy.

No. 2.

Exhibit of the application of the sum of 150,000 dollars, transferred by direction of
the President of the United States, in conformity to the act of 3d March,
1809,
from the appropriations for provisions, to that of repairs of vessels.

Paid to ship carpenters, and other mechanics employed in repairing vessels at the navy Yard, Washington,

$26,075 92

For timber,

2,500 82

For cables, cordage, &c.

10,312 09

For paints, oil, and brushes,

1,956 03

For charcoal,

164 45

For iron work done out of the yard,

1,711 86

For spikes, nails, hoop rivets, fire buckets, &c.

255 67

For kentledge,

4,283 22

For hides and leather hose.

195 54

For repairing signal colors,

247 46

For carpenter's stores,

157 90

For sundries,

232 33

Remitted to the following navy agents, whose accounts have not been adjusted, viz:

Nathaniel Ingraham and Son, Charleston, S. C,

750 00

John Stricker, Baltimore,

3,006 18

George Harrison, Philadelphia,

1,615 79

John Bullus, New York,

1,040 00

Paid bills drawn by Keith Spence, navy agent, New Orleans, for repairs to gunboats, &c.

33,303 30

A bill drawn by James Morrison, navy agent, Kentucky, for cordage sent to New Orleans,

6,314 50

94,153 06

Balance remaining unexpended the 25th of November, 1809, of the sum of $150,000,
transferred by direction of the President, the 1st of September and the 9th of November, 1809,

55,846 94

$150,000 00

Navy Department, November 25, 1809.

PAUL HAMILTON, Secretary of the Navy.

No. 3.

Exhibit of the application of the sum of 25,000 dollars,
transferred by direction of the President of the United States;
in conformity to the act of the 3d of March,
1809,
from the appropriation for "provisions," to that for freight,
store rent, and other contingent expenses.

Expended for freight, passage of seamen, &c.

$528 09

" officers' travelling expenses, and extra allowances,

713 66

" cabin furniture,

274 27

" house rent,

154 16

" powder house, guard house, and wharf, at Washington,

4,439 73

" hardware,

104 17

" sundries,

297 21

" salaries to armorers,

257 50

Remitted to the following navy agents, whose accounts have not been adjusted, viz:

Samuel Storer, navy agent, Portland,

250 00

John Stricker, navy agent, Baltimore,

1,050 00

John Bullus, navy agent, New York,

1,800 00

Paid Keith Spence, navy agent, New Orleans, bills drawn upon the Department,

8,064 70

17,933 49

Balance remaining unexpended this 25th day of November, 1809, of the sum of $25,000,
transferred by direction of the President, the 1st of September, 1809,

7,066 51

S25.000 00

Navy Department, November 25, 1809.

PAUL HAMILTON, Secretary of the Navy.

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No. 4.

The balance remaining on hand the 9th day of November, 1809,
of the appropriation for clothing for the marine corps, for the year 1809, was

$316 07

To which add the sum of $2,500, transferred on the 9th day of November, 1809,
by direction of the President of the United States, from the appropriation
for the quartermaster's department to that for clothing of the marine corps,

2,500 00

2,816 07

Deduct—paid to Tunis Craven for materials for marine clothing,
per warrant, No. 8,372,

885 00

Balance unexpended, November 25, 1809,

$1,831 07

Navy Department, November 25, 1809.

PAUL HAMILTON, Secretary of the Navy.