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SIXTH
Congress, Session II, Volume 2, Chapter 20.
An Act providing for a naval peace
establishment and for other purposes.
Sec. 1. Be it
enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in
Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he
hereby is, authorized, whenever the situation of public affairs shall, in his
opinion, render it expedient, to cause to be sold, they being first divested of
their guns and military stores, which are to be carefully preserved, all or any
of the ships and vessels belonging to the navy, except the frigates United
States, Constitution, President, Chesapeake, Philadelphia, Constellation,
Congress, New York, Boston, Essex, Adams, John Adams, and General Greene; and also
to lay up all t he frigates thus to be retained, except such as are directed by
this act to be kept in constant service in time of peace.
Sec. 2. And be
it further enacted, That six of the frigates to be retained shall be kept
in constant service in time of peace, and shall be officered and manned as the
President of the United States may direct, not to exceed, however, two‑thirds
of the present complement of seamen, and ordinary seamen; the residue of the
frigates to be retained shall be laid up in convenient ports, and there shall
be permanently attached to each frigate so laid up, one sailing master, one
boatswain, one gunner, one carpenter, and one cook, one sergeant, or corporal
of marines, and eight marines; and to the large frigates twelve, and to the
small frigates ten seamen; the sailing master shall have the general care and
superintendence of the ship, and shall generally execute such duties of a
purser as may be necessary.
Sec. 3. And be
it further enacted, That, from and after the day when reduction of the navy
shall take place as aforesaid, the navy ration shall consist of as follows: on
Sunday, fourteen ounces of bread, one and a quarter pound of beef, half a pound
of flour, one quarter of a pound of suet, one half pint of distilled spirits;
Monday, fourteen ounces of bread, one pound of port, half pint of peas, one
half pint of distilled spirits; Tuesday, fourteen ounces of bread, one pound of
beef, two ounces of cheese, one half pint of distilled spirits; Wednesday,
fourteen ounces of bread, one pound of pork, half pint of rice, one half pint
of distilled spirits; Thursday, fourteen ounces of bread, one and a quarter
pound of beef, half pound of flour, quarter pound of suet, one half pint of
distilled spirits; Friday, fourteen ounces of bread, four ounces of cheese, two
ounces of butter, half pint of rice, half point of molasses, one half pint of
distilled spirits; Saturday, fourteen ounces of bread, one pound of pork, half
pint of peas, half pint of vinegar, one half pint of distilled spirits.
Sec. 4. Be it
further enacted, That the President of the United States retain in the navy
service, in time of peace, nine captains, thirty‑six lieutenants, and one
hundred and fifty midshipmen, including those employed on board of the six
frigates to be kept in service; and that he be authorized to discharge all the
other officers in the navy service of the United States; but such of the
aforesaid officers as shall be retained in the service shall be entitled to
receive no more than half their monthly pay during the time when they shall not
be under orders for actual service.
Sec. 5. Be it
further enacted, That all the commissioned and warrant officers who shall
be discharged as aforesaid, shall be entitled to receive four months' pay, over
and above what may be due to them respectively, at the time of their discharge.
Approved, 3 March 1801.
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