t been declared. The news of the indignities
which American commissions had suffered at the hands of the French
Directory had stirred the people to war pitch. Strong measures for
national defense were taken, which stopped little short of war. The
country rallied to the slogan, "Millions for defense but not one cent
for tribute," and the merchants of the seaports hastened to subscribe
funds to build frigates to be loaned to the Government. Salem launched
the famous Essex, ready for sea six months after the keel was laid, at
a cost of $75,000. Her two foremost merchants, Elias Hasket Derby and
William Gray, led the list with ten thousand dollars each. The call sent
out by the master builder, Enos Briggs, rings with thrilling effect:

"To Sons of Freedom! All true lovers of Liberty of your Country! Step
forth and give your assistance in building the frigate to oppose French
insolence and piracy. Let every man in possession of a white oak tree be
ambitious to be foremost in hurrying down the timber to Salem where the
noble structure is to be fabricated to maintain your rights upon the
seas and make the name of America respected among the nations of the
world. Your largest and longest trees are wanted, and the arms of them
for knees and rising timber. Four trees are wanted for the keel which
altogether will measure 146 feet in length, and hew sixteen inches
square."

This handsome frigate privately built by patriots of the republic
illuminates the coastwise spirit and conditions of her time. She was
a Salem ship from keel to truck. Captain Jonathan Haraden, the finest
privateersman of the Revolution, made the rigging for the mainmast at
his ropewalk in Brown Street. Joseph Vincent fitted out the foremast and
Thomas Briggs the mizzenmast in their lofts at the foot of the Common.
When the huge hemp cables were ready for the frigate, the workmen
carried them to the shipyard on their shoulders, the parade led by fife
and drum. Her sails were cut from duck woven in Daniel Rust's factory
in Broad Street and her iron work was forged by Salem shipsmiths. It
was not surprising that Captain Richard Derby was chosen to command
the Essex, but he was abroad in a ship of his own and she sailed under
Captain Edward Preble of the Navy.

The war cloud passed and the merchant argosies overflowed the wharves
and havens of New England, which had ceased to monopolize the business
on blue water. New York had become a seaport with long ranks of