But before this “fancy frigate” of the American navy could get to sea, there was much to be done. Captain Richard Derby of Salem had been selected to command her, but he was abroad in one of his own ships and could not return home in time to equip the frigate for active service. Therefore, Captain Edward Preble of the navy was offered the command, which he accepted and hastened to Salem to put his battery and stores aboard and recruit a crew. It is related that when Captain Preble saw the armament that had been prepared for his ship he found the gun carriages not at all to his liking.
“Who built those gun carriages,” he angrily demanded of Master Builder Briggs.
“Deacon Gould,” was the answer.
“Send for Deacon Gould to meet me at the Sun tavern this evening,” ordered Captain Preble.
Deacon Gould made his appearance and found Captain Preble waiting with somewhat of irritation in his demeanor. The deacon was a man of the most dignified port and he asked:
“What may be your will, Captain Preble?”
“You do not know how to make gun carriages, sir,” exclaimed the fighting sailor.
“What’s that you say, Captain Preble. What’s that you say?” thundered Deacon Gould. “I knew how to make gun carriages before you were born, and if you say that word again I will take you across my knee and play Master Hacker[29] with you, sir.”
Both men were of a hair-trigger temper and a clash was prevented by friends who happened to be in the tavern. Captain Preble proceeded to have the gun carriages cut down to suit him, however, as may be learned from the following entry in his sea journal kept on board the Essex:
“26 12-pound cannon were taken on board for the main battery; mounted them and found the carriages all too high; dismounted the cannon and sent the carriages ashore to be altered.”