[Mr James Hacket Naval Constructor] Sir War Office. Nov 4.^th 1795 your letter of the 23^d of Oct. with the enclosure has been received. your requests relative to the Beams &c. are answered by the inclosed Copy of M^r Humphreys's letter. I have no objection to your sending your Foreman to Georgia to superintend what timber may yet want cutting for the Frigate under your direction, but as M^r Morgan is engaged to superintend the whole of that Business your Foreman must be under his orders. The very great expence that would be incurred prevents my consenting to your sending people from your part of the country to cut the Timber as Negroes can be obtained in Georgia who are good workmen with the Axe at a vastly cheaper rate, and M^r Morgans report of their efficiency is very satisfactory. M^r Stodder Naval-constructor at Baltimore sent a set of Moulds for the 36 Gun Frigates to M^r Morgan the beginning of last June therefore these will not be any necessity for sending more. I have not only no objection to the sending of your Foreman, but really wish he may be sent to apply the Moulds, and direct the Negroes in their work, and afford any other aid, which will forward the Business. Such a Man went some time ago from the Baltimore Yard – If as sound a hand is disposed to go as a Carpenter to hew the timber and occasionally supply the place of the Foreman, I shall be well pleased with your sending him. I feel solicited that all the live Oak timbers may be procured this Winter – —————————————— Navy Yard June 5.^th 1795 Sir Since writing the foregoing I received Col. Hackets letter. the former part of which is Answered in that of Cap^t. Severs. The Main Transom is a principal piece and Should be without defect. Otherwise it Should not be put in. if it was a good piece, and something smaller than directed it might be dispensed with. I am a great friend to a large transom – there should be no danger of weakening it from cutting large tenos for the heels of the Counter timbers in order to give good hold and security. The objections that were stated to the strength of pine Beams was one cause why they were made one Inch larger than at first intended If Col. Hacket should add an Inch to the Beams sideways as stated by him, I suppose they would do say! 13 by 17 and if he is to put in Oak Beams I would advise them the way he mentions in order to ascertain which is the best mode. I am well satisfied the Timber I have now worked agreeably to the directions are in good proportion for their particular stations and for a Vessel the size of the 44 Gun Frigates. Col. Hachetts Observations are very just with respect to defective timber, many timbers may be lost if it should not be examined to first. Those are matters I suppose ought in a great degree Rest with the Constructor and Superintendants as it is almost impossible to draw the[m] – however they should be cautioned against putting in any bad timber. Signed Joshua Humphreys To the Hon^ble the Sec^y of War.