1811	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	2

and two 36 gun frigates, two 74-gun ships, and one frigate of 44 guns, should be constructed.

An English shipwright, Mr. Joshua Humphreys, resident at Philadelphia, was required to give in an estimate of the cost of building a 74-gun ship, to measure 1620 tons American, which, as we shall by and by show, is about 1750 tons English. He did so, and computed the expense, without reckoning the guns, at 342,000 dollars. Upon this estimate, as it appears, the timbers were prepared for two 74s ; one to be built at Philadelphia and named United-States, the other at Boston, and named Constitution. The 44-gun frigate was to be built at Baltimore, and to be named Constellation. Scarcely, however, had the keels of any of these ships been laid down, ere Mr. Jay's treaty restored the amicable relations between England and America, and occasioned a stop to be put to their construction.

As the most eligible mode of converting the timbers prepared for the two 74s, it was resolved that, although begun as line-of-battle ships, they should be finished as frigates. This was to be done by contracting the breadth of the frame about three feet and a half ; and discontinuing the topside at the clamps of the quarterdeck and forecastle. As these enormous " frigates," although intended to mount 62 guns, were to rate only of 44, it was decided that the frigate originally intended to class as a 44 should bear the designation of a 36. The United-States was launched on the 10th of May, 1797, and cost, exclusive of her ordnance, 299,336 dollars ; and the Constitution was launched on the 21st of October, in the same year, and cost 302,718 dollars. This, in either case, was not much below the original estimate, even had the ships been completed as 74s, and shows what a slight change had been effected in their construction. The Constellation was built under the personal direction of Commodore Truxton, who first commissioned her, and was launched on the 7th of September, 1797. Owing partly to the dearness of materials, and, partly, we believe, to some expensive alterations in her construction, the Constellation cost the enormous sum of 314,000 dollars.

When, in the spring of the year 1798, the expense of building these frigates, two of " 44," and one of " 36 guns," came to be submitted to congress, some explanation was required ; and on the 1st of April the secretary at war delivered in a report, of which the following is an extract: " It appears, that the first estimate rendered to congress was for frigates of the common size and dimensions, rated at 36 and 44 guns, and that the appropriations for the armament were founded upon this estimate. It also appears, that, when their size and dimensions came to be maturely considered, due reference being had to the ships they might have to contend with, it was deemed proper, so to alter their dimensions without changing their rates, as to extend their sphere of utility as much as possible. It was expected, from

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