The early reports under Adams give the estimated cost of a ship of the line as $400,000; and the first frigates actually cost as follows:—­

Constellation                     $314,212
Constitution                       302,718
United States                      299,336
President                          220,910
Chesapeake                         220,679
Congress                           197,246
Essex, with armament and stores    139,202

In 1799 the estimates for the navy were raised to four millions and a half, and large appropriations were continued in 1800.  Under these appropriations several navy-yards were established, and frames of live-oak and cedar were furnished for eight ships of the line.  The energy of the Administration produced corresponding effects, convoys were provided for our merchantmen, insurance fell from twenty to ten per cent., and France, impressed by our spirit and armament, retired from the contest.

At the close of 1800 the navy had made great progress; and the Secretary of the Navy, Hon. Benjamin Stoddard of Baltimore, proposed in 1801 an annual appropriation of one million for its increase.

But in 1801 the spirited administration of Adams came to an end.  He had favored the payment of the national debt; he had dared to anticipate the future, to impose taxes and provide ships; he had aided the formation of a military academy and advocated a system of coast-defence, and had boldly asserted our national rights against the French Republic; and yet he loved peace so well, that, against the advice and wishes of his party and his cabinet, he sent a minister to France, who made an honorable treaty.  Posterity sees little to censure in all these measures, for they evince the courage and forecast of the great Statesman of the Revolution; but they were assailed by his opponents, and aided in effecting his defeat.

Jefferson came into power as the advocate of retrenchment and reform,—­captivating terms!  Under his administration the military academy was thrown into the shade, the coast-defences were forgotten, most of the new frigates and sloops built by patriotic citizens were sold, the navy reduced to ten frigates, half of which were suffered to decay, the frames of the ships of the line were used for repairs, and the appropriations for the increase of the navy were reduced to the pitiful sum of a quarter of a million, which was applied principally to gunboats.  Of these Jefferson built no less than one hundred and seventy, at a cost of $10,500 each,—­incurring for the construction and maintenance of this flotilla an expense of nearly three millions, without a particle of benefit to the country.