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18th Congress.]

No. 233.

[1st Session.

TEN ADDITIONAL SLOOPS OF WAR.

COMMUNICATED TO THE SENATE BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, JANUARY 13, 1824.

Navy Department, January 7, 1824.

Sir:

In answer to your letter of the 17th of December last, I have the honor to enclose a short memorandum respecting the "sloops of war in the navy during the late war with Great Britain," by which it appears that in 1812 there were two sloops, one of which was lost in October of that year. In 1813 six were built, and in the latter part of that year and the commencement of 1814 seven were in the service, which was the largest number at any one time during that war. Of these seven, three have been lost; the remaining four are now in commission, and there are none in ordinary. In addition to these there are, however, in our navy two ships, the Cyane and John Adams, now in commission, which do not differ much from sloops of war of the largest size, either in armament or expense, I am of opinion that the good of the service and a suitable apportionment of the naval force require that ten additional sloops of war should be built and on this subject I beg leave to ask your attention to the enclosed papers,

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one of which is a copy of a letter to the chairman of the Naval Committee of the House of Representatives, in answer to a resolution of that body; the other two are estimates, made at your request, showing the cost of building, equipping, manning, and keeping in service, each of said vessels. 

With great respect I am, sir, your obedient servant,

SAMUEL L. SOUTHARD.

Hon. James Lloyd, Chairman of the Naval Committee, U. S. Senate.

Navy Department, January 7, 1824.

Sir:

In answer to your letter of the 16th December last, communicating the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 15th of that month, that the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the construction of ten additional sloops of war, I have the honor to state:

1. That there are at this time in the navy but four sloops of war, and no more are authorized to be built, while the laws provide for twelve ships of the line, twelve frigates of the largest class, and three of the second class. The disproportion, therefore, between the number of sloops and the number of the larger vessels is very great, and must be productive of inconvenience when the situation of the nation shall require that all be in commission and in active service.

2., That sloops of war are competent to most of the objects for which our navy is employed in a time of peace, and often save the necessity of keeping in commission vessels of a larger class; and in war they are very useful both for annoyance and defence. It is believed, therefore, that economy requires an addition to their number.

3. They are also the proper command for masters commandant, and are indispensable to give to them that skill and experience which alone can qualify them to command vessels of a larger size. With the number now in service it is impossible that opportunities of acquiring this skill and experience can be furnished to this grade of officers, and their want of them may be felt and regretted when we are least able to remedy the evil.

From these considerations I feel it my duty respectfully to recommend that the number mentioned in the resolution be built, and of the largest class; and I communicate herewith a copy of a letter from the Commissioners of the Navy, furnishing estimates of the cost of building, equipping, and maintaining in commission for one year, one sloop of this size.

I am, very respectfully, sir, your most obedient servant,

SAMUEL L. SOUTHARD.

Hon. B. W. Crowninshield,

Chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, House of Representatives.

Estimate of the cost of building a sloop of war of the first class.

Materials of wood,

$19,494 00

Materials of Copper,

9,691 76

Materials of iron, including work,

1,680 50

Carpenters' work, joiners' work, and coppering,

15,650 00

$46,516 26

Equipment,

37,087 95

Contingencies,

1,395 79

$85,000 00

Estimate of the annual expense of a sloop of war of the first class.

Number and description of officers and men.

Pay per month.

Rations per day.

Number of rations.

Price of rations.

Amount of pay and rations .

1

Master commandant,

$60

4

1,460

25cts.

$1,085 00

4

Lieutenants,

40

2

2,920

do.

2,670 00

1

Master,

40

1

365

do.

571 25

2

Masters' mates,

20

1

730

do.

662 50

9

Midshipmen,

19

2,052 00

1

Boatswain,

20

1

365

do.

331 25

1

Gunner,

20

1

365

do.

331 25

1

Sailmaker,

20

1

365

do.

331 25

1

Carpenter,

20

1

365

do.

331 25

1

Purser,

40

1

365

do.

571 25

1

Surgeon,

50

1

365

do.

691 25

1

Surgeon's mate,

30

1

365

do.

451 25

1

Captain's clerk,

25

300 00

1

Sailmaker's mate,

19

228 00

2

Boatswain's mates,

19

456 00

1

Gunner's mate,

19

228 00

1

Carpenter's mate,

19

228 00

1

Steward,

18

216 00

1

Cooper,

18

216 00

1

Armorer,

18

 

216 06

1

Master-at-arms,

18

216 00

6

Quartergunners,

18

1,296 00

4

Quartermasters,

18

864 00

3

Yeomen,

18

648 00

1

Coxswain,

18

216 00

1

Ship's corporal,

18

216 00

1

Cook,

18

216 00

62

Able seamen,

12

8,928 00

48

Ordinary seamen,

10

5,760 00

12

Boys,

6

864 00

172

$31,391 50

Provisions—62,780 rations,

25 cts.

15,695 00

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GENERAL ESTIMATE.

For pay and subsistence,

$31,391 50

For provisions,

15,695 00

Repairs, including wear and tear,

12,000 00

Hospital stores,

2,000 00

$61,086 50

Navy Department, January 7, 1824,

Sloop of war Wasp, 19 guns, after taking the Frolic, British sloop of war, was, with her prize, captured by the Poictiers 74 in October, 1812.

Sloop of war Hornet, 18 guns; in service; built at Baltimore in 1805.

Sloop of war Wasp, 18 guns; built at Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1813; commanded; by Johnston Blakely, Esq.; not heard from since October, 1814.

Sloop of war Frolic, 18 guns; built at Boston, Massachusetts, 1813; captured by the British frigate Orpheus in 1814.

Sloop of war Erie, 18 guns; built at Baltimore, 1813; in service.

Sloop of war Ontario 18 guns; built at Baltimore, 1813; in service.

Sloop of war Argus, 18 guns; built at Washington, 1813; burnt August 24, 1814.

Sloop of war Peacock, 18 guns; built at New York, 1813; in service.

Corvette John Adams in service.

Corvette Cyane in service.