ng of the present United States navy; for some of the frigates
built under that law are still afloat, although no longer exposed to
the rude shocks of battle or the still more violent onslaughts of the
mighty ocean.

In accordance with the law, the frames of six frigates were quickly
laid upon the stocks at six different shipyards; and even while the
ribs were yet uncovered, commanders were selected for the unbuilt
ships. The names of ships and officers alike are famous in American
annals, and may well be mentioned here. The "Constitution,"
"President," "United States," "Chesapeake," "Constellation," and
"Congress" were the vessels begun at this time; and the rolls of no
navy of the world ever bore six more famous names. The captains chosen
were John Barry, Samuel Nicholson, Silas Talbot, Joshua Barney,
Richard Dale, and Thomas Truxton. Of these, all save Truxton had
served the Colonies in the Revolution. Barney narrowly escaped being
totally disowned by his country, because while holding a commission in
the French navy he had once accidentally hoisted the American flag
upside down. A cry went up from his enemies, that it was an
intentional insult to the country; but his friends, with justice,
pleaded that the flag had been wet, and a sailor, running it up to
dry, had thus carelessly inverted it.

In the mean time the building of the ships went merrily on, until,
when they were nearly finished, a disgraceful treaty was made with
Algiers, and work on the new navy was neglected, and three of the
unfinished ships sold. But in 1797 the French depredations became so
unbearable that work was hastened; and cities and towns, not satisfied
with the three frigates provided for, began collecting subscriptions
for the purchase of ships, to be presented to the Government. The
first of the frigates building by the Government to reach the water
was the "United States." As the first vessel built by the United
States under the Constitution, her launch was an event to be
celebrated. At noon on the bright May afternoon chosen, the streets of
Philadelphia leading to the ship-yard, where the hull of the great
frigate lay upon the stocks, were thronged with holiday-making people.
The sun had hardly risen, when anxious spectators began to seize upon
the best points of observation about the ship-yard. The hour of the
launch was set at one P.M.; and for hours before the crowd of watchers
sung patriotic songs, cheered for Congress and the new