P. 93: “Having secured a passage in the Eastport packet which was to
sail in the evening, I contrived, through the extreme civility of a
P. 94: gentleman and the kindness of the Commissioner, to obtain a view of the Dock-yard. It is finely situated at Charlestown, about two miles from the city, and considerably larger than any of the others that I had visited, covering nearly 100 acres in extent. There were two vessels of 102 guns on the stocks, the Vermont and Virginia ; they have been lately finished, but will not be launched until wanted for service. Their dimensions are exactly similar to those of the Ohio. They are varnished all over, for the purpose of preserving them from decay. Workmen were laying the keels of a sixty gun frigate and a corvette. Two ships, two deckers, were in ordinary, and the Java, of sixty guns, was undergoing repairs. The marine establishment, gunwharf, &c, were as usual in the yard. The sheds, or, as they term them, ship-houses, are of great height, in consequence of the ships being built upon slips. One in particular was pointed out to me, as containing an improvement which was
P. 95: much esteemed : it consisted in fitting up the space beneath the part of the roof projecting beyond the uprights which support it, with galleries for the accommodation of the workmen. The houses of the officers were in an incomplete state, and the Yard in general had a very deserted appearance, as no ships are fitted out for sea at Boston, in consequence of the impossibility of procuring men. Indeed, New York is the only port where ships can be manned for service. Besides the dock-yards I have described, there is one at Norfolk, and another at Portsmouth ; but with the exception of one line-of-battle ship and two frigates at these ports, I believe I have inspected the whole of the unemployed American vessels of war. The fund appropriated to the gradual augmentation of their navy, from its scantiness, must be of very slow operation. In commis-
P. 96: si was told, that on the new system which they have adopted, the Americans propose to divide their ships into five classes, namely, three-deckers, two-deckers of one hundred and two guns, frigates of sixty guns, corvettes of twenty-two guns, and schooners. The principal builder is one of the Commissioners of the navy. On the model of every ship, a committee is held, the draft determined on, and transmitted to the builders of the dock-yards ; and as periodical inspections take place, no deviation from the original model can occur. This system of classification and admirable adherence to approved models, have been attended by the most beneficial results, which are visible in the beauty and excellent qualities of the ships of the United States.”
Source
Fred. Fitzgerald de Roos. Personal narrative of travels in the United States and Canada in 1826. London, 1827.on, they have one line-of-battle ship, four frigates, six sloops, and several schooners.
P. 94: gentleman and the kindness of the Commissioner, to obtain a view of the Dock-yard. It is finely situated at Charlestown, about two miles from the city, and considerably larger than any of the others that I had visited, covering nearly 100 acres in extent. There were two vessels of 102 guns on the stocks, the Vermont and Virginia ; they have been lately finished, but will not be launched until wanted for service. Their dimensions are exactly similar to those of the Ohio. They are varnished all over, for the purpose of preserving them from decay. Workmen were laying the keels of a sixty gun frigate and a corvette. Two ships, two deckers, were in ordinary, and the Java, of sixty guns, was undergoing repairs. The marine establishment, gunwharf, &c, were as usual in the yard. The sheds, or, as they term them, ship-houses, are of great height, in consequence of the ships being built upon slips. One in particular was pointed out to me, as containing an improvement which was
P. 95: much esteemed : it consisted in fitting up the space beneath the part of the roof projecting beyond the uprights which support it, with galleries for the accommodation of the workmen. The houses of the officers were in an incomplete state, and the Yard in general had a very deserted appearance, as no ships are fitted out for sea at Boston, in consequence of the impossibility of procuring men. Indeed, New York is the only port where ships can be manned for service. Besides the dock-yards I have described, there is one at Norfolk, and another at Portsmouth ; but with the exception of one line-of-battle ship and two frigates at these ports, I believe I have inspected the whole of the unemployed American vessels of war. The fund appropriated to the gradual augmentation of their navy, from its scantiness, must be of very slow operation. In commis-
P. 96: si was told, that on the new system which they have adopted, the Americans propose to divide their ships into five classes, namely, three-deckers, two-deckers of one hundred and two guns, frigates of sixty guns, corvettes of twenty-two guns, and schooners. The principal builder is one of the Commissioners of the navy. On the model of every ship, a committee is held, the draft determined on, and transmitted to the builders of the dock-yards ; and as periodical inspections take place, no deviation from the original model can occur. This system of classification and admirable adherence to approved models, have been attended by the most beneficial results, which are visible in the beauty and excellent qualities of the ships of the United States.”
Source
Fred. Fitzgerald de Roos. Personal narrative of travels in the United States and Canada in 1826. London, 1827.on, they have one line-of-battle ship, four frigates, six sloops, and several schooners.
