s gratefully acknowledged and accepted by,

Sir,
Your Most Obedient,
Humble Servant,
[Signature: John Barry]

The original is in the Force Collection in the Lenox Branch of the New
York Public Library.

The commission was not signed nor issued by Washington until February
22, 1797, when the frigate the "United States," built under the
superintendency of Barry, was ready for launching at Philadelphia. The
original commission is in possession of Barry's grand-niece, Mrs. W.
Horace Hepburn, of Philadelphia.

Captain Barney declined appointment because of the rank--the
fourth--assigned him. Captain James Sever was appointed but given the
sixth place. Captain Nicholson, at Boston, on June 14, 1794,
congratulated Captain Barry on his "honorable appointment to the Command
of our Navy."

"Captain Barry," says Cooper's _History of the Navy_, "was the only one
of the six surviving Captains of the Revolutionary War who was not born
in America, but he had passed nearly all his life in it and was
thoroughly identified with his adopted countrymen in interest and
feeling. He had often distinguished himself during the Revolution and,
perhaps, of all the naval Captains that remained, he was the one who
possessed the greatest reputation for experience, conduct and skill. His
appointment met with general approbation. Nor did anything ever occur to
give the Government reason to regret its selection."

So the County Wexford Irish Catholic boy had become the
Commander-in-Chief of the new Navy of the new Constitutional United
States. Appointed by Washington, "the Father of His Country," Barry thus
became "the Father of the American Navy," in the many distinguished sons
of the sea who were trained under him.

His commission reads, "to take rank from the fourth day of June, one
thousand seven hundred and ninety-four."

There are gallant hearts whose glory
Columbia loves to name,
Whose deeds shall live in story
And everlasting fame.
But never yet one braver
Our starry banner bore
Than saucy old Jack Barry
The Irish Commodore.

--_William Collins_.

CHAPTER XVIII.

APPOINTED TO SUPERINTEND THE BUILDING OF THE FRIGATE, THE "UNITED
STATES," THE FIRST OF THE NEW NAVY--GOES TO GEORGIA TO SELECT TIMBER
FOR THE FOUR FRIGATES.

On April 12, 1794, Joshua Humphreys, of Philadelphia, was directed by
General Knox, Secretary of War--there was no Department of the Navy