FIFTH Congress, Session III, Volume 1, Chapter 13.

An Act for the augmentation of the Navy.

          Section 1.  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled, That under the orders of the President of the United States, and in addition to the naval armament already authorized by law, there shall be built within the United States, six ships of war, of a size to carry, and which will be armed with not less than seventy‑four guns each; and there shall be built or purchased within the United States, six sloops of war, of a size to carry, and which shall be armed with eighteen guns each, or not exceeding that force; all which ships and vessels shall be procured, manned and employed as soon as may be, for the service of the United States: And in part of the necessary expenditures to be incurred herein, a sum not exceeding one million of dollars, shall be, and is hereby appropriated, and shall be paid out of any monies which shall be in the treasury of the United States, not otherwise appropriated.

          Sec. 2.  And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States shall be, and is hereby authorized to augment, at his discretion, the force of any ship or vessel, now in service, or building for the service of the United States, by allowing an additional number of guns and men therein, beyond the established rate, and according to the respective size and capacity of such ship or vessel: And a sum not exceeding thirty‑five thousand dollars, shall be, and is hereby appropriated to defray the expense of such augmentation, and shall be paid out of any monies which shall be in the treasury of the United States, not otherwise appropriated.

          Sec. 3.  And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States shall be, and is hereby authorized to place on the naval establishment, and employ accordingly, all or any of the vessels, which, as revenue cutters, have been increased in force, and employed in the defence of the sea‑coast, pursuant to the act, intituled [sic] "An act providing a naval armament;" and thereupon, the officers and crews of such vessels, may be allowed, at the discretion of the President of the United States, the pay, subsistence, advantages and compensations, proportionably to the rates of such vessels, and shall be governed by the rules and discipline which are, or which shall be, established for the navy of the United States.

          Approved, February 25, 1799.