1811     LITTLE-BELT AND PRESIDENT     5

quarterdeck, and four of a side, without reckoning the chase-port, on the forecastle. This gave the ship 54 ports for broadside guns ; but she had the means of mounting 62 broadside guns. For instance, instead of her gangway, or passage from the forecastle to the quarterdeck, being of the usual width of four or five feet, it was ten feet. This deviation from the common plan was to allow room for the carriage and slide of a 42-pounder carronade ; and a novel and very ingenious method was adopted, to obviate the necessity of uniting the quarterdeck and forecastle barricades, or bulwarks, and consequently of destroying that single-decked appearance which, for the purpose of deception, it was necessary to maintain. Between the two barricades the same open or untimbered space remained, as is seen in any other frigate ; but the stanchions for supporting the hammock-cloths were of extraordinary stoutness, and so arranged along the gangway as to form ports for four guns. The breechings were to pass round the iron stanchions, chocks were fitted to the deck to receive the carriages, and the guns could be as effectively mounted as any in the ship.

We formerly doubted if these eight gangway guns were put on board the President or either of her class-mates ; but it has been asserted by British officers, who visited some of the large American frigates during the war with Tripoli, that they at that time mounted guns along the whole extent of their spar-decks. If so, the ships probably landed them upon the return of peace with the Barbary states. The ships were then found to work so much better, that it was decided, we believe, not to supply these eight singularly constructed ports with guns, but merely to add two carronades to the 54 guns, which the ship could mount in the regular way. This was done by fitting the gangway or entrance port to receive a carronade ; making nine of a side on the quarterdeck. So that the American 44-gun frigate mounted, with her 30 long 24-pounders on the main deck, 18 carronades, 42-pounders, on the quarterdeck, and six carronades, 42-pounders, and two long 24-pounders on the forecastle ; total 56 guns. This is the number invariably assigned as the force of each of the three " 44-gun frigates " in Mr. Clark's American Naval history

The maindeck guns of the United-States were English sea-service guns, measuring nine feet and a half in length, and weighing about 50 cwt. Those of the Constitution were English land-service, or battery guns, in length 10 feet, and in weight about 54 cwt.; but the guns of the President were of American manufacture, measuring eight and a half feet, and weighing only 48½ cwt. We may here mention that, although the four masked or gangway ports were left vacant, a case might occur, in which they would be of essential benefit. For instance, suppose the

* Clark's Naval history of the United States, vol. i., p. 171, and vol. ii., p. 22.

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