The battery of the Essex consisted of 26 12-pounders on the gun decks; 6 6-pounders on the quarter deck; 32 guns in all. During his first cruise at sea Captain Preble recommended to the Secretary of the Navy that 9-pounders replace the 6-pound guns on the quarterdeck which he thought strong enough to bear them, a tribute to honest construction by Master Builder Enos Briggs.
The official receipt of the acceptance of the Essex in behalf of the Government of the United States which Captain Preble gave the Salem committee reads as follows:
“The Committee for building a frigate in Salem for the United States having delivered to my charge the said frigate called the Essex, with her hull, masts, spars and rigging complete, and furnished her with one complete suit of sails, two bower cables and anchors, one stream cable and anchor, one hawser, and kedge anchor, one tow line, four boats and a full set of spare masts and spars except the lower masts and bowsprit, I have in behalf of the United States received the said frigate Essex and signed duplicate receipts for the same.
“Edward Preble, Captain, U. S. N.
“Salem, Dec. 17, 1799.”
This receipt was not given until Captain Preble had taken time to make a thorough examination of the vessel, for his first letter to the Secretary of the Navy concerning the Essex was written on November 17th, more than a month earlier than the foregoing document. He reported on this previous date:
“Sir. I have the honor to inform you that I arrived here last evening and have taken charge of the Essex. She is now completely rigged, has all her ballast on board, and her stock of water will be nearly complete by to-morrow night.... I am much in want of officers to attend the ship, and the recruiting service. I shall be obliged to open a rendezvous to-morrow to recruit men sufficient to make the ship safe at her anchors in case of a storm. I presume the Essex can be got ready for sea in thirty days if my recruiting instructions arrive soon. The agent, Mr. Waters, and the Committee are disposed to render me every assistance in their power.
“Very respectfully,
“Your obedient servant,
“Edward Preble, Capt.
“To the Hon. Secretary of the Navy, etc., etc.”
In another letter with the foregoing address Captain Preble wrote: