Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-11-11
SATURDAY EVENING. NOVEMBER II.

ScAspALous FRAvps.-We have been favored
by friend at New York, with copy ola pam
phlet published in that city, entitled A Narrative
Of the Material Facts in relation to the building Of
the two Greek Frigates---by ALEXANDER CON-
rosrAvLos, an Agent Of the Greek Government
Considering this bject TO be one IN which most Of
our readers feel lively interest-and thinking II
our duty 10 join in execrating the men who have
90 yillainou.y defrauded the Greeks, have gath
cred the following facts from the publication 10 ques
ton. We regret much,- that in our country men
can be found, capable OF acts like those recorded
below and we are happy to find, that, throughout
the ountry, general spirit Of indignation Is excl
ted and expressed against those, who have so un-
warrantably taken advantage OF, and heeced the
Greeks. at the moment when the nation at large
were offering their beat wishes and prayers for
their welfare.
The Greek government employed two distin-
guished commercial houses Of New-York,Le Roy,
Bayard & Co. and G.. G. & s. Rowland to obtain
two frigates, to carry so guns each, at the cost
which these gentlemen stated to the Greek govern
ment, Of s247 500 each, receiving assurances from
each of these houses "that no law Of the United
States would be violated, and M risk incurrnd,"
by building these vessels. This was in March,
1925. These houses received, April 18th, f26,OOO
each, and in acknowledging the receipt Of this sum-
inform the Greek government, that the two fri
gates canno, be completed in less Than sr months,
but in that space Of time, the whole eight rigates
dccrced by the Greek government might be built.
On the 10th Of March, the Greek government IN
formed these houses, that they should be able to
buy these vessels Immediately, and II these vessels
were purchased, in that alone the houses might
draw for the surplus Of their reimbursements on J.
& 5. Ricardo. On the 18th May, these houses in
reply state TO the Greeks that they are convinced,
after a scrupulous examination, Of oil the details,
that great saving would be made in time and ex-
pense, to have the vessels built by days work. un-
der the inspection of Captain Wolcott Chauncey Of
the United States Navy. After receiving the
6 10000, they drew on Ricardo for 6 IS 600, in
forming Ricardo, il was in conformity with the di-
rection of the Greek government. This draft was
accepted and paid. On the 3lst of May, these
houses wrote for further funds, and another Of
October, they drew again for f20.O0O, and on the
3lst Of the same month for ESQ 900 more. Both Of
these drafts were accepted and paid by Ricardo,
making in the whole fl55OO0. On the 22d Oc-
tober, 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 ad-
vancn. with more rapidi,y than they had calcu-
lated upon. But neither Of the vessels were then
launched.
On the 3l.t of October, they inform the Greek
Government that they were in hopes, that the ships
would be ready to put to sea in four months, and
that they computed the costs and outfits at hafa
million Of dollars each but for the sake of prudence
they would put it at s $4,000, and required them
to place to thier order sum equal to 100000 for
each vessel. As the Greeks had already advanced
more than $250,000 beyond the original estimate,
and some weeks had elapsed beyond the time as
sgued the sailing Of the vessels, and they were
now required to give security for the payment Of
100000 more, besides waiting four months long
cr for the sailing Of the ships, the Government en-
ploved an agent, Mr.. Contostavlos, to visit this
CO lhtry, and take charge Of the vessels. In the
moan time, these houses had drawn on Ricar-
do for f55 OO0 but their last drafts were not ac-
cep,ed. The Crock Agent arrived at New-York
on the 25,h of April last and Immediately request
ell Of these houses information of the cost Of these
vessels. After some delay, they informed him, 1t
was 1897 81 cents. These accounts were sub
mtted to Gen. Lallamand, and Capt. Chauncey,
and were pronounced by them correct Errors, to
q large amount, were, however, afterwards detect
ed, among which was a single item for s 22,5OO.-
But the whole 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 completing and
sending out of the frigates, and at length he
obtained from Captain Chauncey an estimate oi
the cost of completing one frgate, which amounted
TO S86.370. When the accounts were presented
the Agent was requested to keep the transaction
cret. on account of the great danger to which the
vessels would be exposed, when it was known they
were for a foreign government at war with another
with whom this country was peace. Yet these
snme houses had assured the Greeks that there wa
no danger. The Agent Immediately repaired I,
Washington, and effected a sale Of one Of the fri
gates to our government. She was appraised b,
the commissioners at s233OOO. These houses of
tsrwards claimed he right Of receiring The amour