A Survey of the Continental Navy in 1776.
By Robert Morris

[Excerpted from American History Told by Contemporaries, Vol. II: Building of the Republic, Albert Bushnell Hart, ed. (New York, MacMillan, 1899), pp. 556-559 ]

Morris was a Philadelphia merchant and banker, considered the richest colonist of his time. He was a member of Congress; from 1781 to 1 784 superintendent of finance; later senator from Pennsylvania. This piece is from a letter written to the commissioners in France.

[Philadelphia, December 21, 1776.]

You will doubtless be surprised that we have not made better progress with our Navy, because you are unacquainted with the many difficulties and causes of delay that have encountered us. The want of sea-coal for our anchor-smiths has been a great bar to our progress, the disappointment in our first attempts to cast cannon has been another, but above all, we have been hindered by the constant calling out of our Militia, in a manner that did not admit of the necessary tradesmen being exempted. You will wonder at this; it would be a long story to unfold the reasons, therefore suffice that it is so. Doctor Franklin can inform you of many particulars respecting the Flying-Camp; therefore, I shall give you the present state of our Navy, according to the best of my knowledge at this time.

The frigate in New-Hampshire is a very fine ship, completed in every particular, except the want of cannon, which was to have been cast in Rhode-Island, but the spirit of privateering has prevailed so eminentlv there, that they have sacrificed every other pursuit to it, both publick and private, as I am informed; and we have ordered the guns cast in Connecticut for that frigate to be sent to Portsmouth. As soon as they arrive, the Raleigh will be manned, and sail on a cruise.

At Boston they have also two fine frigates. The Boston, of twenty-four guns, I expect is at sea before this time, commanded by Captain McNeil a very clever officer. The other is nearly ready, commanded by Captain Manly.

In Rhode-Island were built the two worst frigates, as I have been informed by those that have seen the whole. These two are completely fitted, and were partly manned when we last heard from them; so that I hope they are now at sea.

In Connecticut, the frigate is said to be a fine ship; but she cannot get to sea this winter for want of cordage and other stores.

In New-York, two very fine frigates are blocked up by the enemy, and hauled into Esopus Creek for safety.

At this place, we have four very fine ships. One of them, the Randolph, Captain Biddle, of twenty-six twelve-pounders, will, I hope, go to sea in company with this letter; another, the Delaware, Captain Alexander, is getting ready, and I hope will get out this winter. The other two want guns, anchors, and men.

At Baltimore, is a fine frigate, now only waiting for an anchor and men.

Besides these, we have in service, the Alfred, Columbus, and Reprisal, ships from sixteen to twenty-four guns, the brigantines Cabot, Camden, Andrew Doria, and Lexington, of twelve to sixteen guns; the sloops Providence, Hornet, Fly, Independence, Sachem; and schooners Wasp, Musquito, and Georgia Packet, all in actual service; and they have had great success in taking valuable prizes, as indeed have numbers of privateers from all parts of America. We have besides, two very fine rowgalleys, built here, of ninety feet keel, but they are not yet rigged; and it has lately been determined by Congress to build some line-of-battle ships, and at all events to push forward and pay the utmost attention to an American Navy.

The greatest encouragement is given to seamen, which ought to be made known throughout Europe. Their pay in our Navy is eight dollars per month, with the best chance for prize money that men ever had, and liberty of discharges after every cruise, if they choose it. In the merchant service they now get from thirty to forty dollars per month; and this leads me to the state of our commerce.

In the Eastern States they are so intent on privateering that they mind little else. However, there is some exportation of produce from thence, and as to imports, they are the best supplied of any part of America, having been surprisingly successful in captures. New-York being in the hands of the enemy, we have nothing to say to it; and the produce of New-Jersey will be totally consumed by their army and ours. In this State, (Pennsylvania,) we had last season the worst crop of wheat ever known, both as to quantity and quality. This being our staple commodity, and stores prohibited, our merchants have been led -to purchase much tobacco in Maryland and Virginia, and their ships are employed in the export of this article, with some flour, boards, beeswax, &c. We have a good many imports, but as fast as goods arrive, they are bought up for the Army, or for the use of neighbouring States, and therefore continue to bear high prices.

The value of ships has risen in the same enormous proportion with every thing else, and ships that were deemed worth £1,000 twelve months ago, now sell for £3,000, or upwards. Every article belonging to them is also excessively dear, and hard to be got, and the insolence and difficulty of seamen is beyond bearing. In Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and Georgia, they have plenty of valuable produce on hand, but no ships to carry it away, and constant cruisers all along the coast make it very dangerous to send ships from one port to another; so that look which way you will, you find us surrounded with difficulties Ñin the land service, in the sea service, and in our commerce.

Agriculture and mechanicks have their impediments, by the enlisting of soldiers, and frequent calls on the Militia. In short, nothing but the most arduous exertions, and virtuous conduct in the leaders, seconded by a spirited behaviour in the Army, and a patient endurance of hardships by the people in general, can long support the contest; therefore the Court of France should strike at once, as they will reap an immediate harvest. They may sell their manufactures for any price they please to ask; they will get in payment tobacco, rice, indigo, deer-skins, furs, wheat, flour, iron, beeswax, lumber, fish, oil, whalebone, pot and pearl ashes, and various other articles, and, if they please, here is an ample field to employ their shipping, and raise seamen for their Navy.

[Peter Force, American Archives, Fifth Series (Washington, 1853), III, 1335-1336.]