Philadelphia May 16^th 1795 Sir In framing the bows of the tenders, a regular plan must be adopted, but the roots cutting in many of the top timbers of one leave two bills of timber nearly together, in many places and a short piece will be standing in the body of the third futtock to reach the keel son, in order to prevent these evils I find from the manner of these timbers in the 44 Gun Brigs &ca that it will be necessary to alter from the heads and butts of the timbers. Timbers in the body may either run up as short tucks the timbers will admit of. The roots probably have a long or short top timber both of which can be on the wake of the root. As there appears a difficulty in procuring the top timbers of 44 Cedar, I am bold enough to those of the timbers that are marked in the bottom to cut the parts to be of Red Cedar, because they can the more easily gets then if they were to be of the whole length, all the top timbers and half timbers that form the sides of the ports should be both live oak and as the little that is in the wake of the chain should be of the same by butting the timbers that cut for the masts of 44 Gun Brigs, to admitting as near as possible with the general direction of having as far of the tall timbers of Red Cedar, some of the top timbers proved — off being straighter than those given, shaped as nearly possibly the best to be done — it being be proper to put their in where they do not interfere with the ports &c, &ca — The 44 Gun Brigs perhaps may not be cut more than afore taken for the moulded — Their numbers may be sent to the Builders for the 30 Gun Brigs, &ca, the butts of the timbers they, after mould, be taken from the Draft — James Onstalls — (Signed) [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Copy J. Onstalls Jun^r [undecipherable] W. [undecipherable] [Addressed:] The Hon. Secretary at War