T. D. May 20. 1798 I have rec'd your favour of May 20^th — The business of the Naval Department remains divided between the War & Treasury Departments, & promises [undecipherable] and at present is likely to remain so, as no person has been found who will accept [an] appointment — The post which, [^unfortunately,] [undecipherable: devolved] in me — [undecipherable] shall [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] a Number of Superintendants — Mr. Higginson has been [strikethrough: undecipherable] desired to contract for building a Ship in Massachusetts or at Portsmouth — I have mentioned your proposal to him in a letter which I have written this day — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] all confide [undecipherable] in his [undecipherable] judgement, as I have neither time nor information sufficient to enable me to decide. It will certainly gratify [undecipherable] my personal feelings of friendship & respect to [strikethrough: undecipherable] be informed that your wishes [undecipherable] to be consulted — The articles for a contract were [undecipherable: transmitted] to Mr. Higginson the [undecipherable] day before I rec'd your letter — I immediately consulted Mr. Humphries & Col^o Thompson of Portsmouth, & found their [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the yellow [undecipherable: Live] Oak, were [undecipherable] to be [undecipherable] favourable than yours — The Instructions were [undecipherable] [undecipherable] & under them yellow Oaks cannot be [undecipherable] — The Subject now to be brought [strikethrough: undecipherable] [^in the opinion of good judges] [undecipherable] & if yellow Oaks be really, equal to white Oaks [undecipherable] should certainly have no objection to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to vary the authority [undecipherable] in such manner & to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] your [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I am Gen^l Henry Knox Boston [undecipherable: Recorded]