War department, Nov 15, 1793 Sir I have the honour to submit to you and the committee of the Senate, an estimate of building and equipping a Ship of forty guns rated at thirteen hundred tons, and also an estimate of the ordinary expences of maintaining such a Ship for one year, placing the Strength of the crew at three hundred and fifty men of all descriptions. I do not submit to the committee the cost of the frigates built during the late war, in the United States, as the circumstances then and now are so widely different, as to preclude any accurate estimate of the present expence of building from the charges during the war. I conceived it would be much more authentic to have the principal mechanics of this city consulted on the occasion under the idea of a commission from abroad. The estimate therefore, although not so minute, as may be desired, may be in general considered as tolerably accurate and fully adequate to the object. Nothing has been suggested as to any particular mode of construction, excepting that the Ship will have two decks for batteries, the lower of which is [undecipherable] as consisting of twenty five pounders, although eighteen pounders may be [undecipherable] differently by [undecipherable] such knowledge may be applied, with difference, although not our entire [undecipherable] of their principal [undecipherable] with due management. The elements of the [undecipherable] is preparing and will be submitted to the committee to morrow. I have the honour to be Sir with great respect Your most obedient Servant H Knox Sec^ry of War The Honorable [undecipherable]