[The first image is an archival illegibility notice: "Illegible Text — Some or all of the pages of this file are wholly or in part illegible. We have not been able either to locate a better copy of the document, or to enhance its legibility electronically."] Esteemed Friend, Philad^a April 27^th. 1790 Forrest Humphreys. I In compliance with your request have [undecipherable] [undecipherable] by this days note time attentively examined the subject of Bolting the frigates [Floor?] [undecipherable], with one bolt of 1¼ inch on each [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in lieu of two Bolts of 1⅛ inches each — am of opinion one bolt of 1¼ [inch] is sufficient in each Stave to secure the timber of Ships of the dimensions of the 44 Gun frigates, & the [undecipherable] will prove equally well secu'd as if [undecipherable] by 2 Bolts of 1⅛ each — I have been [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] on the British [Dark?] [undecipherable] to secure the floor [undecipherable] in those [undecipherable] Straps with one bolt in each [undecipherable] & I cannot for any reason [undecipherable] these Straps which are to be built in the [United?] States will not be equally well secu'd if bolted in the same [undecipherable] — The East [India?] Ships which are on general [undecipherable] — than our 44 Gun frigates & which frequently carry 800 to (102) 1000 [undecipherable] of [undecipherable], have [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] is [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] more at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] where [undecipherable] only is used, and only single bolts [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. I have [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] plausible, of their being deficient of security on the [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] reasons I think the method proposed well not only be sufficient-ly secure, but will save a Considerable sum of money to the United States, by not drawing the bolts to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] as a Great saving of [Expense?] which [undecipherable] to be at $3 to $7 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the method proposed. [undecipherable: I remain with Esteem &c.] [undecipherable: Yours &c.]