[Capt. Silas Talbot New York] Sir War Office Nov^th 18 1793. I have received your letter of the 16. the plan of putting the plank for your Frigate into Salt Water, is doubtless proper to be adopted for the reasons you mention. I presume, you have no worms in your Waters to injure it. The mode of securing it you and the Constructor will attend to — [Capt. Sam. Nicholson Boston] Sir War Office Dec^r 9. 1793 Your letter of the 30^th of Novem^r has been received, and then parfaite of your constructor being mistaken with respect to the Deadwood being wanted to be of white Oak as contrary to state order. That order relates only to the two amidship pieces which are straight pieces, and not to the bow or after pieces, which pieces are therefore to be of live Oak, as being essentially necessary in those parts of the Shape which are most liable to decay and very difficult to be replaced when rotten, therefore of the pieces of live oak you allude to should have use made of for three of those places you must order the constructor not to apply it to any other place, unless it is useful for the purpose first intended. [M^r David Stodder Baltimore] War Office Dec^r 31 1793. Enclosed is an extract of a letter from Caleb Gibbs Clerk of the Navy Yard at Boston, by which you will perceive that the Schooner laden with Timber for the Frigate now building at Baltimore after making many unsuccessful attempts to enter the Chesapeake has arrived at Matthew [undecipherable]