An act providing for a Naval Peace Establishment, and for other purposes.
Law as Written [1]
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is authorized, whenever the situation of public affairs shall in his opinion render it expedient, to cause to be sold, they being first divested of their guns and military stores, which are to be carefully preserved, all or any of the ships and vessels belonging to the navy, except the frigates United States, Constitution, President, Chesapeake, Philadelphia, Constellation, Congress, New York, Boston, Essex, Adams, John Adams, and General Greene; and also to lay up all the frigates thus to be retained, except such as are directed by this act to be kept in constant service in time of peace.
SEC. 2. And be it [further] enacted, That six of the frigates to be retained shall be kept in constant service in time of peace and shall be officered and manned as the President of the United States may direct, not to exceed, however, two thirds of the present complement of seamen, and ordinary seamen; the residue of the frigates to be retained shall be laid up in convenient ports, and there shall be permanently attached to each frigate so laid up, one sailing-master, one boatswain, one gunner, one carpenter, and one cook, one sergeant or corporal of marines, and eight marines; and to the large frigates twelve, and to the small frigates ten seamen; the sailing-master shall have the general care and superintendence of the ship; and shall generally execute such duties of a purser as may be necessary.
SEC. 3. And be it [further] enacted, That from and after the day when the reduction of the navy shall take place as aforesaid, ration shall consist of as follows: on Sunday, fourteen ounces of bread, one and a quarter pound of beef, half a pound of flour, one quarter of a pound of suet, one half pint of distilled spirits; Monday, fourteen ounces of bread, one pound of pork, half pint of pease, one half pint of distilled spirits; Tuesday, fourteen ounces of bread, one pound of beef, two ounces of cheese, one half pint of distilled spirits; Wednesday, fourteen ounces of bread, one pound of pork, half pint of rice, one half pint of distilled spirits; Thursday, fourteen ounces of bread, one and a quarter pound of beef, half pound of flour, quarter pound of suet, one half pint of distilled spirits; Friday, fourteen ounces of bread, four ounces of cheese, two ounces of butter, half pint of rice, half pint of molasses, one half pint of distilled spirits; Saturday, fourteen ounces of bread, one pound of pork, half pint of pease, half pint of vinegar, one half pint of distilled spirits.
The 1801 Navy and Marine Corps ration chart per this Act.
SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That the President of the United States retain in the navy service in time of peace, nine captains, thirty six lieutenants, and one hundred and fifty midshipmen, including those employed on board of the six frigates to be kept in service; and that he be authorized to discharge all the other officers in the navy service of the United States, but such of the aforesaid officers as shall be retained in the service shall be entitled to receive no more than half their monthly pay, during the time when they shall not be under orders for actual service.
SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That all the commissioned and warrant officers, who shall be discharged as aforesaid, shall be entitled to receive four months pay over and above what may be due to them respectively at the time of their discharge.
APPROVED, March 3, 1801.