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12th Congress.] 

No. 91. 

[1st Session.

NUMBER OF VESSELS IN SERVICE, AND ESTIMATES OF REPAIRING AND FITTING FOR SERVICE THOSE IN ORDINARY.

COMMUNICATED TO THE SENATE, FEBRUARY 21, 1812.

Mr. Giles, from the committee appointed to consider "the bill concerning the naval establishment," reported amendments to the said bill; together with the following documents explanatory of the same.

Committee Chamber, December 12th, 1811.

Sir:

In obedience to instructions from the committee of the Senate to whom so much of the President's message, as concerns our foreign relations is referred, I do myself the honor to request information from you upon, the following points:

1st. What is the number of ships of war now in service and the force of them, respectively?

2d. Are any repairs necessary for them at this time, and, if so, what would be the probable expense of such repairs?

3d. Are there any ships of war worthy of repair, not now in service?

4th. If so, what would be the probable expense of such repairs?

5th. Within what time could such repairs probably be completed?

6th. What additional number of men would be required to man such ships when repaired?

7th. What would be the probable expense of the officers and men required for manning such ships for one year?

And, also, the expenses of the officers and men of the ships, now in service, for the same period?

Be pleased, sir, to accept assurances of my high consideration, &c.

WM. B. GILES, Chairman.

The Honorable Paul Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy

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Navy Department, December 14th, 1811.

Sir:

I have had the honor of receiving your letter of the 12th instant.
We have now in service the following ships of war, viz:

Frigate President,

rating 44 guns.

Brig Argus,

rating 16 guns

United States,

44

Siren,

16

Constitution,

44

Vixen,

14

Congress,

36

Nautilus,

14

Essex,

32

Oneida,

16

Ship John Adams,

20

Enterprise,

Wasp,

18

Viper,

10

Hornet,

18

None of these vessels, excepting the Enterprise, do at this time require repairs. The Enterprise is repairing at the yard at this place. The expense of her repairs will be very inconsiderable.

The annual expense of keeping these vessels, and the gun boats in commission, in a state of repair, is estimated at $315,000, and this item is included in the navy estimate submitted for the year 1812.

We have the following ships of war, not now in service, viz: the Chesapeake, the Constellation, the New York, rating thirty-six guns each. The Adams and the Boston, rating thirty-two guns each. Of these, no doubt is entertained of the Chesapeake, the Constellation; and the Adams, being worthy of repair. As to the New York and Boston, some doubts have been expressed; a satisfactory opinion cannot, however, be formed, until they shall be opened and thoroughly examined. They are vessels of approved model, and I rather incline to the opinion, that they might be repaired for a sum considerably less, than their original cost. The following table affords, at one view, answers to your third, fourth, and fifth queries; and, for the information of the committee, other information is added, which it is hoped will be acceptable.

Names of vessels.

Rate.

Original cost,
including
every expense.

Probable
expense
of repairing.

Time it will take
to repair them.

No. of petty officers,
able seamen,
ordinary seamen,
& boys, required.

No. of marines
required.

Annual
expense.

Chesapeake,

36

$220,677 80

$120,000 00

Six months.

298

51

$102,253

Constellation,

36

314,212 15

120,000 00

Do.

298

51

102,253

New York,

36

159,639 60

120,000 00

Do.

298

51

102,253

Adams,

32

76,622 27

60,000 00

Do.

257

46

81,607

Boston,

32

119,570 04

60,000 00

Do.

257

46

81,607

$890,721 86

$480,000 00

1,408

245

$469,973

 

The number of seamen, ordinary seamen, and boys,
exclusive of petty officers, required to man the vessels above stated, is

1,220

And we have at this time in service,

4,010

Whole number required for the vessels of war and gunboats now in
commission, and for the five above stated vessels,

5,230

The number of seamen authorized by law, is as follows:

See Laws, vol. 8, p. 108, act of 21st April, 1806,

925

Do. do. 112, do. 3d March, 1807,

500

Do. 9, 206, do. 3lst January, 1809,

3,600

Whole number authorized by law,

5,025

Hence, if all the vessels of war and gunboats, now in commission,
be kept in service, and it should be determined to man the five frigates above stated,
there would, in the number authorized by law a deficiency of (seamen)

205

Of the seamen, stated as necessary for the vessels of war and gunboats now in commission.

The vessels of war require

2,346

The gunboats require

1,488

Vessels and gunboats in ordinary,

176

Making, as above stated,

4,010

The number of marines authorized by law, exclusive of commission officers, is.

1,823

The vessels of war and gunboats, now in commission, require

805

The different stations on shore require,

473

The five frigates, if put in commission, would require

245

Making,

1,523

Hence, the number of marines, at this time authorized by law, is more than
sufficient to enable the Executive to man the five frigates now in ordinary,
and to keep in service all the ships of war and gunboats now in commission.

The probable annual expense, in service, of the five ships now in ordinary,
would, as before stated, be $469,973; but, for the year 1812, their expanse,
in service, would probably not exceed half that sum, because it would take half the year to repair them.

The navy estimate, for the year 1812, amounts to

$2,502,003 90

That is to say:

The expense of the corps of marines,

$228,905 90

Navy yards, &c.

60,000 00

Ordnance,

60,000 00

Ships of war in commission and in ordinary, and gunboats in ordinary,

1,403,098 00

Gunboats in commission,

750,000 00

$2,502,003 90

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If it should be determined to put the five frigates, now in ordinary, in actual service, an addition to the number, of captains at this time authorized by law, (thirteen) will be necessary, as several of those now on the roll are, from age and bodily infirmities, unfit for actual service at sea.

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

PAUL HAMILTON.

Honorable, William B. Giles,

Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, Senate.

Committee Chamber, February 14th, 1812,

Sir:

In obedience to instructions from the committee of the Senate to whom was referred so much of the President's message as concerns the relations between the United States, and Great Britain and France, and to whom, also, was referred a bill from the House of Representatives, entitled; "An act concerning the naval establishment." I do myself the honor to request a more detailed estimate of the probable expenses of repairing the frigates of the United States than is contained in your report to the committee of the 14th of December last; and likewise to inform the committee whether, since that time, any further examination has been made into the condition of the New York and Boston frigates, so as to ascertain, with more certainty than could then be done, the propriety of providing for their repairs.

I am further instructed by the committee to ask the favor of your personal attendance in the committee chamber, when reports upon these subjects shall be made, prepared to give such additional information, respecting the several subjects herein mentioned, as may be required by the committee.

Be pleased, sir, to accept assurances of my high consideration, &c.

WM. B. GILES, Chairman.

The Honorable Paul Hamilton, Secretary for the Navy Department.

Navy Department, February 13th, 1812.

Sir:

I have had the honor of receiving your letter of the 14th inst. requiring "a more detailed estimate of the probable expenses of repairing the frigates of the United States than is contained in my report of the 14th December last."

So far as respects the repairs of the hulls of these frigates, it is altogether impracticable to prepare an estimate in detail with any degree of accuracy, until the hulls shall be opened, and every timber and plank minutely inspected. So far, however, as respects their equipment with masts, spars, sails, water casks, boats, blocks, rigging, cables, &c. the probable expense can be satisfactorily ascertained; and I have accordingly had prepared, and now transmit—

Paper A, which is an estimate of the expense of the standing and running rigging required for the frigate Constellation.

Paper B, which is an estimate of the expense of masts, yards, and spars, for the same frigate.

Paper C, which is an estimate of the expense of sails, hammocks, &c. for the same.

Paper D, which is an estimate of the expense of water casks, buckets, kids, cans, &c.

Paper E, which is an estimate of the expense of boats, oars, and boats hooks.

Paper AA. which is a general estimate of the cost of such articles, including paints, blocks, &c. for the five frigates
Constellation, Chesapeake, New York, Boston, and Adams, amounting to the sum of

$263,306 86

In my communication to you of the 14th December, 1811, it was stated that, for repairing the hulls of these frigates,
and equipping them for sea, there would be required the sum of

$480,000 00

as stated, in the paper AA; the expense of repairing them, exclusive of their hulls, will probably amount to

263,306 86

which leaves for the expense of repairing their hulls, and for small stores, the sum of

216,693 41

Since my communication to you of the 14th December last, I required of the captain commandant of the navy yard at this place to have the frigates New York and Boston re-examined by the carpenters of the yard; and the following is the result of such re-examination, as reported to me by Captain Tingey:

December 31st, 1811.

"The master and the foreman, of the ship-carpenters, having been ordered to re-examine the state of the frigates New York and Boston, report as follows:

FRIGATE NEW YORK.

"Her floor timbers and first futtocks are of white oak—twenty-six of the floors, (those in the extremes) and the whole of the first futtocks, must be replaced with new. Her second and third futtocks and top timbers are of live oak, cedar, and locust, and appear tolerably sound, particularly those of live oak. The fore and the after end of the keelson, all the ceiling, decks, beams, knees, wales, upper works, and part of her bottom plank, will require to be new. Probably, however, some of the knees will answer again, or suit for a smaller vessel."

FRIGATE BOSTON.

"Her frame is of white oak, and a great part of it appears to be rotten. Her floor timbers and first futtocks appear in a better state. The second and third futtocks, top timbers, stern frame, and all forward, together with most of her ceiling, seams, knees, wales, upper works, decks, and part of her bottom plank must be new."

This examination has, no doubt, been as perfect as it could be made; but until the vessels themselves shall be opened, and every timber and plank minutely inspected, a satisfactory opinion as to their being worthy of repair cannot be formed.

No doubt of the Constellation, Chesapeake, and Adams, being worthy of repair, has ever been entertained by any practical man.

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

PAUL HAMILTON.

Hon. William B. Giles, Chairman of a Committee, Senate.

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A

Estimate of Cordage, &c. necessary for the equipment and stores of the frigate Constellation,
corresponding with the supplies issued to the frigate
Congress.

For standing and running rigging, and stores complete, from 2 to 8 inch rope,

65,649

at 18 cents

$11,816 82

Ratline, assorted,

3,905

ditto

702 90

Spun yarn ditto,

6,718

ditto

1,209 24

Worming and seining line,

726

20 cents .

145 20

White lines, marline, and housline,

650

30 cents

195 00

Twine,

50

1 dollar

50 00

White cordage, fine, for wheel ropes,

308

25 cents

77 00

Seven hawsers and tow lines,

9,603

18 cents

1,728 54

Two messengers, fine;

2,612.

20 cents

522 40

Five cables, 19 inch,

45,486

18 cents

8,252 28

Three buoy ropes,

1,-200.

ditto

216 00

$24,915 38

THOS. TINGEY.

Number and value of yards, masts, and spars, for completely fitting the frigate Constellation for sea.

Bowsprit, complete,

$524 00

Main cap,

$12 00

Fore mast,

620 00

Main top mast cross trees

28 00

Two fore top masts,

155 52

Main top mast cap,

8 50

Two fore top-gallant masts,

81 20

Fore top, trussel and, cross trees,

260 00

Two fore yards,

279 00

Fore cap,

12 00

Two fore topsail yards,

113 84

Fore top mast cross trees,

26 00

Two fore top-gallant yards,

31 20

Fore top mast cap,

7 50

Two fore royal yards,

13 00

Mizzen top, trussel and cross trees,

143 00

Mainmast,

704 00

Mizzen cap,

8 00

Two main top masts,

165 60

Mizzen top mast cross trees,

14,50

Two main top-gallant masts,

84 80

Fore, main, and mizzen cap shores,

6 00

Two main yards,

328 06

Fore, main, and mizzen top rails,

12 00

Two maintopsail yards,

134 68

Three lower studdingsail booms,

84 15

Two main top-gallant yards,

38 70

Three fore top mast do.

54 00

Two main, royal yards,

16 80

Three fore top-gallant do.

27 00

Mizzenmast,

328 50

Three fore royal do.

12 00

Two mizzen top masts,

103 08

Three main top mast do.

60 75

Two mizzen top-gallant masts,

35 20

Three main top-gallant do.

30 60

Two cross jack yards,

137 28

Three main royal do.

13 86

Two mizzen topsail yards

44 00

Three mizzen top-gallant do.

15 84

Two mizzen top-gallant yards

17 40

Three mizzen royal do

6 75

Two mizzen royal yards,

7 60

Four lower studdingsail yards,

28 08

Mizzen or spanker boom,

67 34

Three fore top mast do.

21 06

Mizzen gaff,

43 66

Three fore top-gallant do.

11 40

Trysail mast,

19 80

Three fore royal do.

6 75

Two jib booms,

93 60

Three main top mast do.

21 06

Two flying jib booms,

45 00

Three maintop-gallant do.

12 48

Spritsail yard,

56 92

Two mizzen top-gallant do.

4 00

Spritsail topsail yard,

15 60

Two mizzen royal do.

2 00

Two martingales,

44 72

Aggregate of masts, booms, and sprits, for boats,

74 89

Main top, trussel trees, and cross trees,

280 50

Two main royal studdingsail yards,

3 25

$5,658 02

THOS. TINGEY.

Navy Yard, Washington, February 11th, 1812.

C.

Estimate of the value of Canvass and other materials,
necessary for the equipment of the frigate
Constellation.

Sails of Russia Duck:

1 main course,

668 yards,

1 fore do.

555

1 main topsail,

684

1 fore topsail,

581

1 mizzen topsail,

389

1 spanker,

374

1 mizzen staysail,

177

1 fore top mast staysail,

120

1 main storm staysail,

269

1 fore do. do.

124

1 mizzen do. do.

124

1 quarter deck awning,

182

1 poop do. do.

160

6 coats for masts,

46

117 bolts, at 26 dollars per bolt,

4,453 yards, or

$ 3,042 00

Sails of Canvass, No. 5.

1 main top-gallantsail,

240 yards

1 fore do. do.

208

--268--

C-Continued.

Sails of Canvass, No. 5.

1 jib,

339

2 lower studdingsails,

706

2 main top mast do.

544

2 fore top mast do.

462

1 main top mast staysail,

390

1 suit of sails for launch, (long boat)

120

3,009 yards, or

81 1/2 bolts, at 18 dollars per bolt,

1,467 00

Sails, &c. of Canvass, No. 6.

1 mizzen top-gallantsail,

124 yards,

1 middle staysail,

210

1 main top-gallant staysail,

179

5 windsails,

160

673 yards, or

18 bolts, at 17 dollars per bolt,

306 00

Sails, &c. of Ravens Duck.

1 main royal,

112 yards,

1 fore do.

91

1 mizzen royal,

56

1 flying jib,

184

1 upper top gallant staysail,

123

1 main royal staysail,

102

1 mizzen top mast staysail,

110

1 mizzen middle staysail,

66

1 do. top-gallant do.

65

1 gaff topsail,

175

2 main top-gallant studdingsails,

260

2 fore top-gallant do. do.

194

2 mizzen do. do. do.

120

2 pain royal do. do.

112

2 fore royal do. do.

90

1 suit boat sails,

67

1 do. awning,

77

2,004 yards, or

53 bolts, at 13 dollars per bolt,

689 00

Materials of American Canvass.

1 main deck awning,

390 yards.

1 suit studdingsail covers,

354

1 suit tarpaulings,

134

i horse for spirit room,

20

1 do. filling water casks,

16

1 suit hammock cloths and arm chest covers,

509

1,423 yards, or

38 bolts, at 17 dollars per bolt,

646 00

Old canvass for boat covers and hammock patches, four hundred and seventy-two yards, at 20 cts.

94 40

400 hammocks for crew, 44 1/2 bolts canvass, at $17,

756 50

16 do. for steerage, 1 1/2 bolts Russia duck, at $26,

39 00

6 cots for sick people, 1 1/2 bolts canvass, at $17,

25 50

2189 lbs. bolt rope on the sails, at 22 cts.

481 58

222 welded thimbles in do. 20

44 40

380 lbs, sewing twine, at $1,

380 00

75 do. white lines, at 25 cts.

18 75

550 do. of spun yarn, 20 cts.

110 00

Whole cost of materials.

$8,100 13

Workmanship, &c.

Sewing 117 bolts of Russia duck, split, at $7 00,

819 00

Do. 190 do. light canvass, 3 50

665 00

Do. 19 reefs with bands; 4 00

76 00

Do. 58 dozen points in the sails, 50

29 00

Fitting sails, 307 bolts, 50

153 50

Making boat covers,

16 00

Do. 416 hammocks, 75

312 00

Do. 6 cots, 4 00

24 00

$10,194 63

Add for extra sails, of which it is necessary to have two suits at first equipment, viz:

Sails of Russia duck, 91 bolts, at $26 00

2,366 00

Do. canvass, No. 5, 32 do. 18 00

576 00

Do. do. No. 6, 14 do. 17 00

238 00

Do. Ravens duck, 25 do. 13 00

325 00

Making up and fitting,

1,071 00

Bolt rope, spun yarn, twine, thimbles, &c.

546 00

$15,317 13

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D.

Number and value of water casks, tubs, buoys, buckets, cans, &c.
from the Cooper's department, necessary to the complete equipment
of the United States' frigate
Constellation.

96 Leagers, of three hundred gallons each,

at $50 00

$4,800 00

73 Half leagers, of one hundred and fifty gallons each,

25 00

1,825 00

2 Hogsheads, of one hundred gallons each,

10 00

20 00

42 Casks, of seventy gallons each,

6 50

273 00

47 Casks, of forty gallons each,

4 50

211 50

2 Tubs, of seventy-five gallons each,

7 50

15 00

1 Grog tub, of fifty gallons each,

6 00

6 00

14 Breakers, of fifteen gallons each,

2 00

28 00

6 Horse buckets, of fifteen gallons each,

2 00

12 00

3 Hose tubs,

3 00

9 00

1 Bathing tub,

12 00

2 Cedar tubs,

3 00

4 Nunbuoys, viz: two of four feet, at $12, one of three feet, at $8;

12 1/2 inch, at $6,

38 00

44 Mess beakers, at one dollar twenty-five cents,

55 00 44 00

44 Mess kids, at one dollar,

44 Mess cans, at one dollar,

44 00

72 Buckets, at one dollar,

72 00

4 Funnels, with copper spouts, at one dollar fifty cents,

6 00

24 Paint buckets, at one dollar,

24 00

7 Dozen hanks, at fifty cents,

3 50

28 Mast hoops,

5 18

$7,506 18

THOS. TINGEY.

 

E.

Number, size, and value of Boats, necessary to the equipment for sea of the United States' frigate Constellation.

One launch, or long boat, thirty-three feet,

$330 00

One first cutter, clincher built, thirty-four and a half feet,

375 00

One second cutter, clincher built, twenty-nine and three-fourths feet,

320 00

One stern boat, clincher built, twenty-six feet,

280 00

One gig, clincher built, twenty-seven feet,

250 00

One gig, clincher built, twenty-six feet,

240 00

236 oars, measuring four thousand one hundred and twelve feet, at eighteen cents,

740 16

12 boat hook staffs, at fifty cents,

6 00

$2,541 16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corresponding with the return of supplies to the frigate Congress.

Navy Yard, Washington, February 11, 1812.

THOS. TINGEY.

AA.

General estimate of the cost of the standing and running rigging, cables,
masts, yards, spars, sails, hammocks, water casks, boats, oars, paints, blocks, &c. &c.
required for the repair of the frigates
Constellation, Chesapeake, New York, Boston, and Adams,
which embraces all the expense of repairing them, excepting the repairs of their hulls and small stores.

FRIGATE CONSTELLATION.

Standing and running rigging, cables, &c. per paper A,

$24,915 38

Masts, yards, and spars, B,

5,658 02

Sails, hammocks, &c. C,

15,317 13

Water casks, buoys, cans, buckets, &c. D,

7,506 18

Boats, oars, boat hooks, E,

2,541 16

Paints, oil, and painting,

2,080 00

Blocks, gun tackles, &c.

2,512 44

$60,530 31

FRIGATE CHESAPEAKE.

 

Same as above,

60,530 31

FRIGATE NEW YORK.

Same as above, deducting ten per cent.

54,477 28

FRIGATE BOSTON.

Same as above, deducting twenty-five per cent.

45,397 74

FRIGATE ADAMS.

Same as above, deducting thirty per cent.

42,371 22

Aggregate cost of the five frigates for the materials above estimated,

$263,306 86

Note.—The estimate for repairing and equipping for service the
five frigates above mentioned, as stated in the communication to
Mr. Giles, dated 14th December, 1811,

$480,000 00

amounts to Deduct the sum above stated, viz:

263,306 86

And there will remain for timber,
mechanical labor on the hulls of the frigates, and for small stores,

216,693 14

S480,000 00

--270--

Committee Chamber, February 17, 1812,

Sir:

Pursuant to instructions from the committee of the Senate to whom so much of the President's message is referred as concerns the relations between the United States and Great Britain and France, &c. I do myself the honor to request the favor of your personal attendance in the committee chamber, to-morrow morning, at half past ten o'clock, for the purpose of giving such information respecting the affairs of your Department as may be required of you by the committee.

Be pleased, sir, to accept assurances of my high consideration, &c.

WM. B. GILES, Chairman.

The Hon. Paul Hamilton, Secretary for the Navy Department.