[Secretary at War Letter Sept 15. 1794] War Department September 15. 1794 Sir You are to consider yourself as the superinten- -dant of the frigate to be built at the port of New York and which is to mount forty four — Guns. Your constant attendance will be necessary for the purpose of observing that all parts of the business harmonize and are conformed to the public interests. The frigate will be built and equipped under the following general regulations. The Treasury of the United States will make special contracts for the principal materials, which will be used in the construction and equipment of the Ship. The agent John Blagge will provide all the materials not otherwise provided by the Treasury. He will also, excepting the constructor, procure and pay all the workmen and laborers of all sorts necessary for the building and equipping the ship. The numbers and qualities of workmen and laborers are to be furnished by the agent in pursuance of requisitions in writing by the con= = structor for the hull or master mechanic in each branch of equipment, but in both cases to be coun- -tersigned by the superintendant. All the materials for the hull not provided by the Treasury are to be provided by the agent in pursuance of estimates in writing by the construc- -tor countersigned by the superintendant. The materials for the equipment not provi- =ded by the Treasury are to be obtained by the agent in pursuance of the estimate of the master mecha- =nic in each branch countersigned by the superin- =tendant. The constructor will have the immediate direction of all the workmen employed upon the hull of the Ship. the rolls of the workmen and of the laborers must be called every day at the com- -mencement and termination of their labor, and after returning from dinner. This must be done in the presence of the constructor and clerk of the yard whose certificate will be an indispensible condition of payment. The clerk of the yard will receive issue and account for all the public property. The order for the issue of articles for the hull must be signed by the constructor and countersigned by you. The articles for the equipment to be issued on the estimate of the principal mechanic in each branch with your order thereon. You will as well as the constructor be particular- -ly careful that none but the best materials be used in the construction of the hull, and you will observe the same precautions with respect to the equipment of all sorts. You will also carefully observe that there be no deviation from the directions which shall be issued with respect to the proportions of the hull and equipments of all sorts. You will report to me weekly the number of workmen employed and the progress made in the execution either of the hull or equipment. I am Sir your obedient Servant H Knox Hry. [undecipherable] Captain Silas Talbot