The navy yard at Boston described by Bernhard, duke of Saxe-Weimar Eisenach during his visit 5 August 1825

This yard is several times described by other visitors, which allows us to compare the information.(1)

P. 47: “I visited the navy-yard on the 5th August, in company with Major Wainwright, of.the marines, and Lieutenant Gwynn. In the small barracks of the marines where we commenced, the rooms is not large; the beds stand on a platform, so that the rooms ire very narrow and close. The appearance of the soldiers was .not remarkable. The navy-yard was founded only twelve rears ago, and not yet completed, but is very extensive. A dry dock has not yet been made, but will be advantageously placed. The two line of battle ships, Columbus and Independence, and the frigate Java, were in ordinary. Two line of battle-ships and a corvette were on the stocks, and not yet named. The two former, which were under sheds, were finished, so that they could leave the stocks as soon as government should order. But as no loss was incurred, the vessels were allowed to lie on the stocks, and under shelter as long as possible, that the wood may become still better seasoned. The sheds are larger than the English, and are actual houses. The two vessels are very modestly called seventy-fours, but have each three decks; the one pierced for one hundred and thirty thirty-two pounders, and the other for an hundred and thirty-six, of the same caliber. They are built of live oak, and to prevent the dry rot, salt is scattered among the timbers, which, as I was told, was of great advantage. The vessels are so high and roomy, that I could stand erect in the two lower batteries under the beams. Some methods which tend to strengthen and relieve vessels, used in other places, have not yet been adopted here; for instance, I did not observe the cruciform strengthening of the sides, and the diagonal deck, according to the plan of Sir Robert Seppings, from which two improvements the navies of England and the Netherlands derive the greatest advantage. The same system which prevails in England is observed here, namely, not to employ shipwrights for builders, ns in the Netherlands and in France, but carpenters. Mr. Baker, the master shipwright of this place, with whom I became acquainted, is considered to be a very skilful man. After we had seen the navy-yard, been much gratified with its good condition, and wishing it might soon be finished, we visited the lady of the commissioner, Captain Craine, who was absent. The commissioner's house belongs to the government, and is placed on a height overlooking the navy-yard; the architect who planned it, worried the commissioner with continual questions re-

p. 48: lative to the form of the house, until finally he replied in great vexation, build it like my. The architect took him at his word, and built it with two round projections standing close together, which have a very curious appearance from the navy yard. We saw in the navy-yard sails of cotton canvass, which are preferred to hempen sails, both because they are more easily worked, and are peculiarly durable. They are not, however, liked in the navy, because they are too combustible, and on that account might be extremely dangerous to a vessel during an action; they are therefore used only for the higher sails.

Source

Bernhard, duke of Saxe-Weimar Eisenach. Travels trough North America during the years 1825 and 1826. 2 Vols. Philadelphia, 1828.

Note

1. “The navy yard at Boston, United States as described by Enoch Cobb Wines in 1838” and “The navy yard at Boston, United States in 1826 as described by the British navy Lieutenant Fred. Fitzgerald de Roos”.