Business of Naval Department: Difficulty Securing Appointments; Ship-building
Document 1790Wolcott observes that the business of the Naval Department is still divided between the War Department and the Treasury Department. Mr. Higgenson has been contracted to build a ship in Massachusetts. Yellow oak appears to be the equal of white oak for use in ship-building.
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W. D. June 22d 1798
Sir
I have received yours of May [undecipherable] — the business of the Naval Department remains divided between the War & Treasury Departments & for aught I know not at present is likely to remain so, as no person has been found who will accept [strikethrough: of] [undecipherable: the appointment]
The part which devolves on me [undecipherable] will afford me to [strikethrough: nominate] [undecipherable] a number of Superintendents Mr Higginson has been [undecipherable: engaged] [strikethrough: undecipherable] [undecipherable] desired to contract for building a Ship in [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] [strikethrough: undecipherable] to [undecipherable: this] matter — I have mentioned your proposal to him in a letter which I have written this day — If he [undecipherable] it in his [undecipherable] judgment, or if I have within time [undecipherable: new] information sufficient to enable me to [undecipherable: direct] It will certainly gratify [undecipherable] my personal feelings of friendship & respect to [strikethrough: undecipherable] be informed that your wishes [undecipherable] to [undecipherable: comply]
The [undecipherable: articles] for a contract [undecipherable] [undecipherable: transmitted] to Mr Higginson the [undecipherable] day upon [undecipherable: Rect] your letter — I immediately consulted Mr Humphreys & Coll [undecipherable] of Portsmouth, & [undecipherable: found] [undecipherable: their] [undecipherable: ideas] of [undecipherable: the] yellow [strikethrough: undecipherable] oak, [undecipherable: were] utterly [undecipherable: returned], to be [undecipherable] than yours — the Instructions were not therefore altered & [undecipherable: under] them yellow oak [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] The subject now is to [undecipherable: complete] [strikethrough: undecipherable] [undecipherable] & if yellow oak [strikethrough: undecipherable] [undecipherable] readily [undecipherable: applied] to white oak & I [undecipherable: should] certainly [undecipherable: have] no objection to [undecipherable: make] [undecipherable] consent to [undecipherable: carry] the [undecipherable: alteration] [undecipherable] with pleasure & to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: comply] your [undecipherable: proposals] [strikethrough: undecipherable]
I am
Genl Henry Knox
Boston
[seal]
Type
Autograph Draft Letter
Description
Wolcott observes that the business of the Naval Department is still divided between the War Department and the Treasury Department. Mr. Higgenson has been contracted to build a ship in Massachusetts. Yellow oak appears to be the equal of white oak for use in ship-building.
Date
05/28/1790
Author
Recipient
Sent from
Treasury Department
Repository
Collection
Document number
1790052840001
Page start
1
Note
2 drafts of the same letter, both difficult to read
Notable persons
Henry Knox
Oliver Wolcott, Jr.
Mr. Higgenson
Notable locations
Boston
Treasury Department