Diary in America Volume I Part 26

_Frigates, 1st Cla.s.s_.

+==========+==+ Of 54 guns 1 +----------+--+ 44 guns 14 +----------+--+ Total 15 +==========+==+

_Frigates, 2nd Cla.s.s_

+==========+=+ Of 30 guns2 +==========+=+

_Sloops_

+==========+==+ Of 20 guns12 +----------+--+ 18 guns 3 +----------+--+ Total 15 +==========+==+

_Schooners_

+===========+==+ Of 10 guns 6 +-----------+--+ Others 7 +-----------+--+ Total 13 +-----------+--+ Grand Total56 +===========+==+

NAVY LIST.

_Vessels of War of the United States Navy, September 1837_.

_s.h.i.+ps of the Line_

+==============+====+===============+====+============================+ Name RateWhere built WhenWhere employed +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ Franklin 74Philadelphia 1815In ordinary at New York +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ Was.h.i.+ngton 74Portsmouth, NH.1816Do. do.

+--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ Columbus 74Was.h.i.+ngton 1819At Boston (repaired) +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ Ohio 80New York 1820Do. do.

+--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ North Carolina 80Philadelphia 1820In commission (Pacific) +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ Delaware 80Gosport 1820At Norfolk (repaired) +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ Alabama 80 On stocks at Portsmouth, NH.

+--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ Vermont 80 Do. at Boston +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ Virginia 80 Do. do.

+--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ New York 80 On stocks, at Norfolk +--------------+----+---------------+----+----------------------------+ Pennsylvania 120Philadelphia 1837At Philadelphia +==============+====+===============+====+============================+

_Frigates, 1st Cla.s.s_

+=============+====+============+====+=============================+ Name RateWhere built WhenWhere employed +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ Independence 54Boston 1814On the coast of Brazil +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ United States 44Philadelphia1797In commission (Mediterranean) +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ Const.i.tution 44Boston 1787Do. do.

+-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ Guerriere 44Philadelphia1814In ordinary at Norfolk +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ Java 44Baltimore 1814Receiving s.h.i.+p, do.

+-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ Potomac 44Was.h.i.+ngton 1821In ordinary at do.

+-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ Brandy Wine 44Was.h.i.+ngton 1825Do. do.

+-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ Hudson 44Purchased 1826Receiving vessel at New York +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ Columbia 44Was.h.i.+ngton 1836In ordinary at Norfolk +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ Santee 44 On stocks, at Portsmouth, NH.

+-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ c.u.mberland 44 Do. at Boston +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ Sabine 44 Do. at New York +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ Savannah 44 Do. do.

+-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ Raritan 44 Do. at Philadelphia +-------------+----+------------+----+-----------------------------+ St Lawrence 44 Do. at Norfolk +=============+====+============+====+=============================+

_Frigates, 2nd Cla.s.s_

+=============+====+=================+====+===========================+ Name RateWhere built WhenWhere employed +-------------+----+-----------------+----+---------------------------+ Constellation 36Baltimore 1797In commission (West Indies) +-------------+----+-----------------+----+---------------------------+ Macedonian 36Norfolk (rebuilt)1836Ready for sea at Norfolk +=============+====+=================+====+===========================+

_Sloops of War_

+==========+====+===================+====+===========================+ Name RateWhere built WhenWhere employed +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ John Adams 20Norfolk (rebuilt) 1820Ready for sea at New York +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ Cyane 20Boston (rebuilding) +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ Boston 20Boston 1825At sea +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ Lexington 20New York 1825At sea +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ Vincennes 20New York 1826In ordinary at Norfolk +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ Warren 20Boston 1826Do. do.

+----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ Natches 20Norfolk 1827In commission (West Indies) +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ Falmouth 20Boston 1827At sea +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ Fairfield 20New York 1828On the coast of Brazil +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ Vandalia 20Philadelphia 1828In commission (West Indies) +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ St Louis 20Was.h.i.+ngton 1828Do. do.

+----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ Concord 20Portsmouth 1828In commission (West Indies) +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ Erie 18New York (rebuilt) 1820At Boston +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ Ontario 18Baltimore 1813At sea +----------+----+-------------------+----+---------------------------+ Peac.o.c.k 18New York 1813In ordinary at Norfolk +==========+====+===================+====+===========================+

_Schooners_

+==================+==+============+====+================================+ Dolphin 10Philadelphia1821On the Coast of Brazil +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ Grampus 10Was.h.i.+ngton 1821In commission (West Indies) +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ Shark 10Was.h.i.+ngton 1821In the Mediterranean +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ Enterprise 10New York 1831In commission (East Indies) +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ Boxer 10Boston 1731In the Pacific +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ Porpoise 10Boston 1836Atlantic coast +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ Experiment 4Was.h.i.+ngton 1831Employed near New York +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ Fox (hulk) 3Purchased 1823At Baltimore (condemned) +------------------+--+------------+----+--------------------------------+ Sea Gull (galliot) Purchased 1823Receiving vessel at Philadelphia +==================+==+============+====+================================+

_Exploring Vessels_

+===============+=+============+====+===============================+ Relief Philadelphia1836 +---------------+-+------------+----+-------------------------------+ Barque Pioneer Boston 1836New York (nearly ready for sea) +---------------+-+------------+----+-------------------------------+ Barque Consort Boston 1836 +---------------+-+------------+----+-------------------------------+ Schooner Active Purchased 1837 +===============+=+============+====+===============================+

The ratings of these vessels will, however, very much mislead people as to the real strength of the armament. The 74's and 80's are in weight of broadside equal to most three-decked s.h.i.+ps; the first-cla.s.s frigates are double-banked of the scantling, and carrying the complement of men of our 74's. The sloops are equally powerful in proportion to their ratings, most of them carrying long guns. Although flush vessels, they are little inferior to a 36-gun frigate in scantling, and are much too powerful far any that we have in our service, under the same denomination of rating. All the line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps are named after the several states, the frigates after the princ.i.p.al rivers, and the sloops of war after the towns, or _cities_, and the names are decided by lot.

It is impossible not to be struck with the beautiful architecture in most of these vessels. The Pennsylvania, rated 120 guns, on four decks, carrying 140, is not by any means so perfect as some of the line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps.

Note. The following are the dimensions given me of the s.h.i.+p of the line Pennsylvania:--

+================================================+====+======+ feetinches +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ In extreme length over all 237 +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ Between the perpendiculars on the lower gun-deck 220 +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ Length of keel for tonnage 190 +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ Moulded breadth of beam 56 9 +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ do. do. from tonnage 57 6 +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ Extreme breadth of beam outside the wales 59 +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ Depth of lower hold 23 +------------------------------------------------+----+------+ Extreme depth amids.h.i.+ps 51 +================================================+====+======+

Burthen 3366 tons, and has ports for 140 guns, all long thirty-two pounders, throwing 2240 pounds of ball at each broadside, or 4480 pounds from the whole.

The Ohio is, as far as I am a judge, the perfection of a s.h.i.+p of the line. But in every cla.s.s you cannot but admire the superiority of the models and workmans.h.i.+p. The dock-yards in America are small, and not equal at present to what may eventually be required, but they have land to add to them if necessary. There certainly is no necessity for such establishments or such store-houses as we have, as their timber and hemp are at hand when required; but they ate very deficient both in dry and wet docks. Properly speaking, they have no great naval depot. This arises from the jealous feeling existing between the several states. A bill brought into Congress to expend so many thousand dollars upon the dock-yard at Boston, in Ma.s.sachusetts, would be immediately opposed by the state of New York, and an amendment proposed to transfer the works intended to their dock-yard at Brooklyn. The other states which possess dock-yards would also a.s.sert their right, and thus they will all fight for their respective establishments until the bill is lost, and the bone of contention falls to the ground.

+=======================================+====+ Her mainmast from the step to the truck 278 +---------------------------------------+----+ Main yard 110 +---------------------------------------+----+ Main-topsail yard 82 +---------------------------------------+----+ Main-top-gallant yard 52 +---------------------------------------+----+ Main-royal yard 36 +---------------------------------------+----+ Size of lower shrouds 0 11 +---------------------------------------+----+ Do. of mainstay 0 19 +---------------------------------------+----+ Do. of sheet-cable 0 25 +=======================================+====+

The sheet-anchor, made at Was.h.i.+ngton, weighs 11,660 pounds

Main-topsail contains 1,531 yards.

The number of yards of canva.s.s for one suit of sails is 18,341, and for bags, hammocks, boat-sails, awnings, etcetera, 14,624; total 32,965 yards.

The Americans considered that in the Pennsylvania they possessed the largest vessel in the world, but this is a great mistake; one of the Sultan's three-deckers is larger. Below are the dimensions of the Queen, lately launched at Portsmouth

+===================================+====+======+ feetinches +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Length on the gun-deck 204 0 +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Do. of keel for tonnage 166 5.25 +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Breadth extreme 60 0 +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Do. for tonnage 59 2 +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Depth in hold 23 8 +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Burden in tons (No. 3,099) +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Extreme length aloft 247 6 +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Extreme height forward 56 4 +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Do. mids.h.i.+ps 50 8 +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Do. abaft 62 6 +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Launching draught of water, forward 14 1 +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Do. abaft 19 0 +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Height from deck to deck, gun-deck 7 3 +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Do. middle-deck 7 0 +-----------------------------------+----+------+ Do. main-deck 7 0 +===================================+====+======+

Note. There are seven navy yards belonging to, and occupied for the use of the United States, viz.--The navy yard at Portsmouth, NH, is situated on an island, contains fifty-eight acres, cost 5,500 dollars.

The navy yard at Charlestown, near Boston, is situated on the north side of Charles river, contains thirty-four acres, and cost 32,214 dollars.

The navy yard at New York is situated on Long Island, opposite New York, contains forty acres, and cost 40,000 dollars.

The navy yard at Philadelphia is situated on the Delaware river, in the district of Southwark, contains eleven acres to low water mark, and cost 27,000 dollars.

It is remarkable that along the whole of the eastern coast of America, from Halifax in Nova Scotia down to Pensacola in the Gulf of Mexico, there is not one good open harbour. The majority of the American harbours are barred at the entrance, so as to preclude a fleet running out and in to manoeuvre at pleasure; indeed, if the tide does not serve, there are few of them in which a line-of-battle s.h.i.+p, hard pressed, could take refuge. A good s.p.a.cious harbour, easy of access, like that of Halifax in Nova Scotia, is one of the few advantages, perhaps the only natural advantage, wanting in the United States.

The American navy list is as follows:--

+=========================+===+=================+===+ Captains or Commodores 50Pa.s.sed Mids.h.i.+pmen181 +-------------------------+---+-----------------+---+ Masters Commandant 50Mids.h.i.+pmen 227 +-------------------------+---+-----------------+---+ Lieutenants 279Sailing-Masters 27 +-------------------------+---+-----------------+---+ Surgeons 50Sail-makers 25 +-------------------------+---+-----------------+---+ Pa.s.sed a.s.sistant Surgeons 24Boatswains 22 +-------------------------+---+-----------------+---+ a.s.sistant Surgeons 33Gunners 27 +-------------------------+---+-----------------+---+ Pursers 45Carpenters 26 +-------------------------+---+-----------------+---+ Chaplains 9 +=========================+===+=================+===+

The pay of these officers is on the following scale. It must be observed, that they do not use the term "half pay;" but when unemployed the officers are either attached to the various dockyards or on leave.

I have reduced the sums paid into English money, that they may be better understood by the reader:

+======================================================+===+ Senior captain, on service 960 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ On leave i.e. half-pay 730 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Captains, squadron service 830 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Navy Yard and other duty, half pay 730 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Off duty, ditto 525 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Commanders on service 525 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Navy-yard and other duty, half pay 440 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ On leave, ditto 380 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Lieutenants commanding 380 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Navy-yard and other duty, half pay 315 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Waiting orders, ditto 250 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Surgeons, according to their length of servitude, from210 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ To 500 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ And half pay in proportion +------------------------------------------------------+---+ a.s.sistant Surgeons, from 200 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ To 250 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Chaplains; sea service 250 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ On leave, half pay 170 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Pa.s.sed mids.h.i.+pmen, duty 156 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Waiting orders, half pay 125 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Mids.h.i.+pmen; sea service 33 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Navy-yard and other duty, half pay! 72 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Leave, ditto! 63 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Sailing-masters; s.h.i.+ps of the line 228 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Other duty, half pay 200 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Leave, ditto 156 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Boatswains, carpenters, sailmakers, and gunners +------------------------------------------------------+---+ s.h.i.+ps of the line 156 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Frigate 125 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ Other duty, half pay 105 +------------------------------------------------------+---+ On leave, ditto 75 +======================================================+===+

The navy yard at Was.h.i.+ngton, in the district of Columbia, is situated on the eastern branch of the Potomac, contains thirty-seven acres, and cost 4,000 dollars. In this yard are made all the anchors, cables, blocks, and almost all things requisite for the use of the navy of the United States.