arrived at Philadelphia, but the
other vessels of our fleet were obliged to anchor, as the pressing of
those who did not get on shore obliged them to remain until assistance
was sent from Philadelphia. After our arrival Barry left the command of
the brig, he having been ordered to take charge of a Continental 74-gun
ship then building in the State of New Hampshire," relates Kessler.
James Collins, First Lieutenant, became Captain Barry's successor in
command of the "Delaware," which had taken two prizes, the distribution
of which was made among the officers and crew, Kessler receiving "in the
threefold capacity of clerk, steward and captain of marines."

CHAPTER IX.

CAPTAIN BARRY APPOINTED TO SUPERINTEND THE BUILDING OF THE "AMERICA,"
FRIGATE--GIVEN COMMAND OF THE "ALLIANCE" AS SUCCESSOR OF LANDAIS, THE
FRENCHMAN--THE DISCOVERY OF ARNOLD'S TREASON--"WHOM CAN WE TRUST
NOW?"--THE ANSWER TO ARNOLD.

The Continental 74 to which Captain Barry was sent immediately on his
arrival at Philadelphia in the "Delaware" was the frigate "America,"
then building at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. To this command he was
appointed on November 6, 1779, by the Marine Committee of Congress,
which that day notified the Navy Board at Boston that Captain Barry on
his way to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he goes to hasten the
building and fitting out of the new ship on the stocks at that place,
would present the notification desiring the Committee to "push forward
with all possible expedition" the work Captain Barry had been entrusted
with. Barry's orders were "to hasten as much as may be in your power the
completing of that ship, which we are desirous of having done with all
despatch."

On November 20th, as desired by Captain Barry, Captain George Jerry
Osborne was appointed to command the marines of the ship, but as it
would be "a considerable time before there is occasion to raise the
men," he was appointed "on the principle of his being useful in doing
matters relative to the ship until that time." How long Captain Barry
continued to superintend the building of the new Continental ship--later
named the "America," does not appear, but on June 1, 1780, there is
record in the _Pennsylvania Archives_ [Vol. I, 5th Series] that Captain
John Barry became the commander of the Pennsylvania privateer, the
"American," of 14 guns and 70 men. Possibly the work of directing the
construction of a vessel was not congenial to the act