[M^r Pennock] War Office October 9 1795. Sir, In a letter sometime since received you expressed your satisfaction with M^r Fox. I am persuaded from all that I have seen and heard of him that he merits great confidence. Hence I am induced to notice his information concerning M^r Shaw, the Clerk of the Navy Yard at Gosport, and to believe that it springs solely from a regard to the public interest. That information (which it seems corresponds with your own observation) shews that M^r Shaw does not, or cannot perform all the services, and in a proper manner, which may be reasonably required of him. The shutting up of the yard furnishes a good opportunity of discharging any persons not necessary to be continued. Indeed considering how much time must elapse before the building of the Norfolk Frigates can be resumed, I think it my duty to make such discharges. As soon therefore as this Person has been properly taken care of and an exact return of them made out, and delivered to you or returned to this Office, M^r Shaw may be discharged. I shall be glad to hear from you immediately on this subject. [A. Tho. Truxtun] War Office October 10 1795 [Page 133 —] Sir, Understanding that you were in town as well as Captains Barry and Talbot, I wrote a line desiring that you would meet with M^r Humphreys to consult on the dimensions of the masts and yards for the Frigates, but it seems you had departed for Baltimore. I now enclose you a Statement made by M^r Humphreys of the result of different calculations as to the total measurement of masts and yards. They all exceed your dimensions A true Statement of the total lengths of the Masts and Yards for the Frigates of 44 Guns, calculated from the proportions laid down by the following Gentlemen. [Table:] According to M^r According to Cap^t. According to M^r According to Cap^t. Nichols System. Barry's proportions. Humphreys proportions. [Truxtun's] proportions. Total length of Main Mast, Top Mast and Top Gallant ditto, with Royal ditto. added together without deductions of heads 221. 7 214. 3 212. 6 216. 11 ditto of Main Yard, Sprit Sail ditto, and Royal ditto. 240. 4 237. 6 234. 10 225. 1 ditto of Fore Mast, Top Mast and Top Gallant ditto, with Royal ditto. 197. 1 199. 8 198. 0 197. 4 ditto of Fore Yard, Topsail ditto, Top Gallant ditto, and Royal ditto. 211. 5 213. 6 [undecipherable: 220. 6] 241. 1 ditto of Mizon Mast, Top Mast, Top Gallant ditto, with Royal ditto. 177. 11 [undecipherable: 164. 8] 175. 8 156. 0 ditto of [Mizon] Yard, Topsail ditto, Top Gallant ditto and Royal ditto. 158. 2 172. 6 176. 0 137. 1 1206. 6 1203. 7 1217. 8 1190. 6 Note — In Captain Truxtun's proportions there is no Mizon Royal Yard, or Mizon [Mast] included.