John Jay Papers
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To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 13 February 1776

From Alexander McDougall

NewYork Feby 13th 1776.

Dear Sir

Yesterday we made a Convention. I have the pleasure to inform you it will be a full one a day or two1 They have such a spirit as will m[ain]tain the reputation of the Colony and the Common Un[ion.] When Mr Deane was here in the Course of the winter2 on the business of the Navey; I suggested to him the Propriety of geting a Copy of Lieut. OBrien’s Naval evolutions, to be reprinted. He approved of it, but I could not then obtain a Copy.3 I have since pro[cured] one and sent it this morning by Col Morris to Congress which I beg them to accept. As this is the only tract on this subject, in our language, and but one other Copy of it in this City, I think it should be reprinted at Public expence. If this the Congress should ^should be^ the opinion of Congress, great care ought to be observed [in] the work. The Copy should be corrected, by the Errata before its begun; for ^if^ the work is not clear, and as those for wh[ose] use it is designed are not the most intelligent the end of the republication will ^not^ be answered. From the dim[ensions] transmitted to NewYork for the building the Ships in our Colony, I fear they the Construction of them will be imp[roper] for the force designated for them.4 All the modern Frig[ates] English as well as French, which carry Nine or Twelve Pounders, have their Ports Seven feet distant ^in the Clear^ from Sill to Sill of the Ports, and each Port from 2 [feet] to 2 feet three inches ^clear^ so that and the Bow gun stand[ing] in its proper Place not farther forward than the ^Scarf^5 that is not over the strait part of the Keel. And the aftermost Gun is generally the distance of one port, from the [scag] that is from the aftermost part of Keel. From whence it will necessarily Follow, that the whole length of the Keel should be equally to the dim[ensions] of the Ports and their distance for the number of the Guns a ship is intended to Carry, on the Lower Deck. This will be clearly understood by the ruffDiagram, on the other side. My solicitude for the reputation of the united Colonies, is the motive that induced me to make this hasty address in Convention, which I hope will plead my excuse. I am with great truth and regard in Haste Sir Your affectionate Humble Servant

Alexr. McDougall

ALS, MdAN (EJ: 584). Addressed: “To/John Jay Esquire Delegate/for the Colony of NewYork/in Congress, and in his absence/to be opened by James Duane/Esqr Delegate for the Said/Colony Phia.” Enclosure: diagram captioned, “Keel for a ship to mount 28 Guns, altho I have made no scale the Ideas will be fully understood.” Stamped: “FREE.” Endorsed. Manuscript damaged at right margin; missing letters are placed in brackets. This text was received and answered by Duane in JJ’s absense. See Duane to McDougall, 25 Feb. 1776, LDC description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds., Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (26 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1976–98) description ends , 3: 299–300.

1On the morning of 12 Feb. 1776, the New York Provincial Congress resumed sessions with all counties except Richmond and Queens represented. Richmond had elected two delegates, Adrian Bancker and Richard Lawrence, on 19 Jan., but they were not permitted to attend until they and a majority of county residents subscribed to the association. Bancker began attendance at the congress on 26 Feb. Queens, however, remained unrepresented throughout the session. JPC description begins Journals of the Provincial Congress, Provincial Convention, Committee of Safety and Council of Safety of the State of New-York (2 vols.; Albany, N.Y., 1842) description ends , 1: 263, 310, 324.

2In the third week of November 1775, Silas Deane visited New York on a mission for the naval committee or “committee to fit out armed vessels.” He was to arrange for the purchase of two vessels for the Continental service in New York but failed to do so. JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends , 3: 311–12; Deane Papers description begins The Deane Papers, 1774–1790 (5 vols.; New-York Historical Society, Collections, vols. 19–23; New York, 1887–91) description ends , 1: 90–94; LDC description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds., Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (26 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1976–98) description ends , 2: 315–16.

3Christopher O’Bryen’s book, in large part a translation of Paul Hoste’s work, was Naval Evolutions: or, A System of Sea-Discipline; Extracted from The Celebrated Treatise of P. L’Hoste, Professor of Mathematics in the Royal Seminary of Toulon, Confirmed by Experience; Illustrated by Examples from the Most Remarkable Sea-Engagements between England and Holland; Embellished with Eighteen Copper-Plates; And Adapted to the Use of the British Navy. To Which Are Added, An Abstract of the Theory of Ship-Building; An Essay on Naval Discipline, by a Late Experienced Sea-Commander; A General Idea of the Armament of the French Navy; With Some Practical Observations (London, 1762). The book was presented to Congress by Lewis Morris but was not reprinted in America during the Revolution.

4On 13 Dec. 1775 Congress adopted a report calling for the construction of thirteen frigates, two of which were to be built in New York. The JPC description begins Journals of the Provincial Congress, Provincial Convention, Committee of Safety and Council of Safety of the State of New-York (2 vols.; Albany, N.Y., 1842) description ends for December 1775–February 1776 does not record the receipt of these orders by the New York authorities, but the instructions were probably conveyed by Francis Lewis, New York’s representative on the Continental Marine Committee, when he visited his home colony in January 1776 to make arrangements for the construction of the Continental vessels. JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends , 3: 425–26; JPC description begins Journals of the Provincial Congress, Provincial Convention, Committee of Safety and Council of Safety of the State of New-York (2 vols.; Albany, N.Y., 1842) description ends , 1: 255. In his reply Duane stated he had communicated McDougall’s remarks to several members of the Marine Committee, who assured him “that the models are free from the objections you make, & that you will be convinced of it by a Recourse to the plan which Accompanies Mr. Lewis.” LDC description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds., Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (26 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1976–98) description ends , 3: 300.

5“Scarf” is a spelling variation of scarph: a beveled end joint between two timbers.

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