War Office June 19^th 1797 Facts for information M^r Russell about M^r W^m Merbet and appointed by M^r M^cPennacle, to consider the Building of the Frigate at Garfort during the absence of M^r Morgan, at was the Constitution Nov. 19^th of March 1796. I was appointed to Construct that Chair in the Room of M^r Morgan and I immediately repaired to Norfolk and kept its agents about the 11^th of Sept following — during my residence there M^r Herbert acted under my directions as a Secondary person, and on my returning from thence he assumed his Charge. I have before me Colonel of Gent Kuropes letter to M^r Pennacle, extracted as follows: W O Aug 8^th 1794 "A letter informed M^r Morgan extra as soon as proper in getting "the Live Oake Timber & Cedar, and enter as a Man of Talents and "Experience as Comissioner of the Frigates at Norfolk. But it is "possible that Permitting many Deciders to present his [undecipherable], "these in due Season. Besides those former clauses it would be necessary "to engage a Maste Who well be as the Master builder before the But "[undecipherable] Captⁿ Doile and you shall give for, and also in case of the non "arrival of M^r Morgan may be Constituted to the Constitution Extract of a letter from M^r Pennacle to half of war dated 30^th Aug^t 1794 "Cap^tn Doile will inform you that we have employed M^r William "Herbert at 15 Doll p Wall, to Superintend the Business till the "arrival of M^r Morgan when it is placed in him [undecipherable]