These ships were to cost on the average but $66,666, and the whole were expected to be ready by March, 1776. They varied from 121 to 132 feet in length on the gun deck, with a breadth of from 32.6 to 34.5½. Their armament was that of the frigates of the day: 12-pounders on the main deck and 6-pounders on the quarter deck and forecastle. All should have been ready by the time named, for the _Raleigh_ was launched at Portsmouth but two months after her keel was laid. But ill-luck pursued them throughout, and particularly in that the free life and greater gains of the privateersman made it almost impossible to get crews. Thus the four ships the purchase of which was authorized on October 30, 1775, were the first of our navy. These were the _Alfred_, of 24 guns; _Columbus_, 20; _Andrew Doria_, 14, and the _Cabot_, 16. Such was the beginning of the Continental navy which was to have a life of but ten years. A few words will complete our story of naval construction. On November 20, 1776, Congress resolved to build “immediately” a 74 in New Hampshire; a 74 and a 36 in Massachusetts; a 74, a brig, 18, and a packet boat in Pennsylvania; two frigates, 36 each, in Virginia; and two frigates, 36 each, in Maryland. But in July, 1777, on account of the high cost of wages and material, Congress authorized stopping work on such as the committee might judge proper, and the final result was the completion and getting to sea of but three: the _Alliance_, 36, the _General Gates_, 18, both built in Massachusetts, and the _Saratoga_, 16, in Pennsylvania. Only one 74 was built. This was the _America_, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and she was not launched until the war had practically ended. During the early part of 1776 there were built on Lake Champlain, under the direction of Benedict Arnold, two schooners with eight 6 and 4 pounders; a sloop with ten guns of like calibre; a cutter with one 12, one 9, and two 6; one galley with two 18-pounders and eight 12, and two others of nearly equal armament; eight gondolas with three 8 and 9 pounders, and two other small craft. These, as will be seen later, were to fight a memorable action. CHAPTER III