The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-11-08


I On the 22d Oct which was beyond the
time assigned for the building of these
vessels, each OF these houses wrote to
the Greek Government that the ships
were advancing with more rapidity than
they had calculated upon. But neither
of the vessels was then launched. On
the 3lst Oct. they inform the Greek
Government that they were in hopes
that the ships would he ready TO put 10
sea in four months, and that they comput-
ed the costs and outfits at half a million
of dollars each, but for the sake of pru-
dence they would put il at $4,000, and
required them to place TO their order
sum equal TO 5000 for each vessel
As the Greeks had already advanced
more than 100000 dollars beyond the
original estimate. and some weeks had
elapsed beyond the time assigned for
the sailing OF the vessels, and they were
now requested to give security for the
payment of 100000 more, besides wait
ing four months longer for the sailing
Of the ships, the Government employed
an Agent, Mr.. 'Contostavlos, to visit this
country and take charge of the vessels.
drawn on Ricardo for $4,000 pounds.
but their last drafts were not accepted.
The Greek Agent arrived at Newly ork
on the 25h of April last, and immedi-
atelY requested of these houses informa-
ton OF the cost OF tneSe vease 10. 49,,
some delay, they informed him il was
81 1897 dollars and "a cents. These
accounts were submitted to Gen. Lalle-
mand and Capt. Chauncs y, and were
pronounced by them correct. Errors,
10 large amount, were however after
wards detected, among which was sin
gle item for $500 dollars. But the
wb1ie amount, thus expended, was less
| than the amount which the two houses
had received from London in October
preceding. The Greek Agent urged on
these houses, with great warmth, the
strong necessity there was Of complet-
ing and sending out one of the frigates;
at length he obtained from Capt. 'Chaun-
/ cey an estimate Of the cost of complet-
ing one trigate, which amounted TO
86,37O dollars. When the accounts
were presented, the Agent was request
ed TO keep the transaction secret, on
account of the great danger TO which
the vessels would be exposed, when il
was known they were !or foreign
Government at war with another with
whom this country was at peace. Yet
these same houses had assured the
Greeks that there was no danger. The
Agent Immediately repaired to Wash
ishton, and effected sale of one of the
frIgates to our Government She was
appraised by the Commissioners at
1850 dollars. These houses ofier10ards
claimed the right Of recsi0ing the amount
of this sale, and their commission on ii,
although they had nothing to do apith The
sale, and acre not &no10n IN the trdnSaC-
! s:e,.. 4'heen houses afterwards Presen'-
ed accounts of their expenditures, each
OF them claiming a commission of FIVE
per cent. on each vessel. On the Lib
orator the commissions to lie Roy & Co.
were 20,275 dollars; the Howlands,
20,275 dollars and SO cents; the whole
amount of their commissions on the ship
Hope was 1864 dollars-making the
whole amount Of commissions received
| by them eighty thousand too hundred and
thirty ! our dollars and ninety three cents
The accounts contained no specification
Of either the quantity, price, or other
particulars relating to the articles, for
which disbursements were alleged TO
be made. The Agent, being dissatis-
fed, threatened to commence suit,
and the houses proposed an arbitration,
which was agreed 10. The arbitrator
allowed all the bills, and, among others,
one exceeding ffy thousand dollars, TO
two shipwrighls, for the use of their
yard and services, and eleuen thousand
f0e hundred dollars to Capt. Chauncey
for superiDtendance, and claimed for
their own services four thousand fUe han
dred dollars, having been actually en-
gagged in sitting on the reference only
nineteen days.
These are the villanous transactions
disclosed by this narrative. The refer
ees have published their account of ii,
of which we intend TO prepare an a.
Judgement. Salem Observer.