--264--
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
--265--
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, |
Probable
|
Time it
will take |
No. of
petty officers, |
No. of
marines |
Annual
|
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, |
1,220 |
|
And we have at this time in service, |
4,010 |
|
Whole
number required for the vessels of war and gunboats now in |
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, |
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
The
probable annual expense, in service, of the five ships now in ordinary,
| ||
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 |
--266--
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 |
$263,306 86 |
In my
communication to you of the 14th December, 1811, it was stated that, for
repairing the hulls of these frigates, |
$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.
--267--
A | |||
Estimate of Cordage,
&c. necessary for the equipment and stores
of the frigate Constellation,
| |||
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,
| ||
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 |
--269--
D. | ||
Number and value of water
casks, tubs, buoys, buckets, cans, &c. | ||
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, | ||
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 |
$480,000 00 |
|
amounts to Deduct the sum above stated, viz: |
263,306 86 |
|
And there will remain for timber, |
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.