War Office Nov^r 3. 1794 Your letters of the 18 and 26 of Oct have been rec^d. That first relating to the plan & Submitted by the [strikethrough: ied] to M^r Humphreys for his Opinion, by the position I will be unable to assist your application on the Subject to the [strikethrough: res] for the quantity of planks &c. that is attending with a difficulty. [strikethrough: tion] of each class of Thickness and breadth, and M^r Humphreys on whether the Contractors expect any commercial compen[strikethrough: uth] if they should be allowed to use the planks left and upwards, and the planks [strikethrough: for Mr. Peters] for [undecipherable] — Pensacola at the Bost ones, and to stay at the last not to be applied 19 Rules in Pensacola at the [strikethrough: that] will be expected to work from from any Station or different — When General [undecipherable] M^r Peters gave some ex[strikethrough: portations] it may be allowed to rectify whatever mistakes have, provided the planks &c. quite limited to be the said greater Pensacola, as the men in cutting these a very desirable, and Remuneration from [undecipherable] — signed, in the Surveys they discover & expect any additional Compensation whatever for the alteration but they both [strikethrough: services] satisfied that the above alteration would be sufficient. It has been suggested by M^r Humphreys that [strikethrough: must] be allowed an addition to the pay to him if he thinks will be a great saving to the public — [strikethrough: & settle] [strikethrough: the troubles] — and proper guarantee and order the Stokeman — you will be pleased to attention and state what additional pay will be necessary to be allowed to each class of Workmen — I am well convinced from actual discourse with the Workmen on this Subject, they would be pay in lieu of provisions and they would also of them — If an allowance of pay [strikethrough: &] their[strikethrough: s] instead of provisions the Cookshouse will consequently be it might be [strikethrough: offered &] for the Surgeon to decide an [strikethrough: who has our] the Yards, it would also furnish the Cook with every good[strikethrough: s] — the present one may then be given up, and the [undecipherable] would keep the Cookhouse in good [undecipherable] — I have Spoken to the Sheriff of New [undecipherable] and he gave me an expectation he should be often connected with me in Opinion, he is the [undecipherable] by charge of the Yards inside M^r Morgan should [undecipherable] from Georgia and take charge of the same. As Clerks of the Public Yards, and the Salary being thought an adequate [undecipherable] as on Return of Work done in the Yard, both to the Office since August, you will please to be make out a Monthly Return and forward it to [undecipherable] — I remain with Respect and Esteem — Josiah Fox [signature] R^t William Pennock Naval Agent Norfolk —