President Washington Expresses Satisfaction on the Progress of the Construction of the Frigate Crescent, a Gift to the Algerian Dey

Mount Vernon, July 22. 1796. One-page autograph letter on bifolium, signed by George Washington as President and marked "Private" by him, to Secretary of War James McHenry, regarding the construction the frigate Crescent. In full: "Your private letter of the 16th came to my hands at the same time that your official one of the 18th did.-- From what is there said, and appears by the enclosure, I am satisfied no unnecessary delay respecting the Algerine Frigate has taken place. From a former one, and perhaps from a solicitude to execute promptly, whatever is entrusted to me, I had conceived otherwise.--As I have Mr. Liston here, & the house full of other company, I shall only add that I am-what you will always find--Your sincere frd. and affect. Servant G: Washington". Addressed by Washington on verso of integral leaf and signed by him "Private", docketed on same in another hand. Creasing from old folds. 9 1/8 x 7 1/2 in. (232 x 190 mm). Silked. In mat with an engraved portrait of Washington, and in frame, 14 1/2 x 19 in. (368 x 483 mm).

By the end of 1793, Algerian corsairs had captured ten American merchant ships and had taken 105 prisoners. Seeking to liberate these men and ships, and end future attacks, on September 5, 1795, the United States and Algerian Dey Hassan Bashaw signed a treaty of peace. Under the treaty, the United States agreed to a one-time payment of $600,000, an additional $200,000 payment for the release of the prisoners, as well as another $21,000 in annual tribute. By the spring of 1796, however, following several delays in payment, the Dey had become irritated and gave the United States 30 days to make payment, otherwise he would declare them in violation of the treaty and would resume attacks on its commerce. To buy more time and appease the Dey, American negotiators offered a gift of a 36-gun frigate in exchange for a three-month extension, to which the Dey accepted.

Designed by Josiah Fox and constructed by John Hackett, who both oversaw the construction of the original six ships of the nascent United States Navy, the Algerian frigate was named the Crescent by Secretary of War McHenry. Initial confusion over which executive department should oversee the ship's construction led President Washington to write to McHenry in early July 1796 to voice his disturbance over the lack of progress, stating angrily to him “to execute promptly & vigorously. And not to put things off until the morrow which can be done, and require to be done, to day.” A letter from McHenry on July 18 included plans for the frigate, indicated that progress was already under way, and that the initial departmental confusion had been overcome. On July 22, Washington wrote the present letter, expressing his satisfaction and indicating that his mind had been put at rest on the matter.

The Crescent was completed on August 15, 1797. Built as small as structurally possible, she bore 36 guns, a 122-foot gundeck, 32-foot beam, and a 10-foot depth of hold. On January 18, 1798, she set sail from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Algiers, carrying the new consul general to Algiers, Richard O'Brien, along with $180,000 worth of silver coins. It arrived on February 26, and was officially delivered on March 1. By 1800, however, it was reported that the ship was showing signs of dry rot due to neglect, and by 1806 it was declared unfit for service and broken up.

Robert Liston (1742-1836) was the British Minister to the United States, from 1796-1800. He, his wife Henrietta Marchant Liston, his secretary Edward Thornton, and Henry Stuart, arrived at Mount Vernon on July 20.