[M'r David Stodder Naval Const'r Baltimore] Sir War Office March 29^th 1796 As I find the live Oak for the Deadwoods have not arrived from Georgia and a great lapse of time may unavoidable happen before it may arrive — you are therefore permitted to make use of white oak for those pieces of Deadwood which were directed to be of live Oak, by a former order, provided, that white oak of very excellent quality can be procured, which I understand from Capt'n Truxtuns a part can be obtained in your part of the Country, In answer to your letter of the 24^th ins't I can only state that what pay is due you from this Office may be drawn for, and that you may empower M'r Herrit who is resident in this City to receive it quarterly as it becomes due. [M'r Will. Pennock. Naval Agent Norfolk] Sir War Office April 23^d 1796 The Congress having passed a Bill to build [undecipherable] only three of the Frigates ordered by a former law, and it being determined by the President to lay aside the Frigate building at Norfolk — you will therefore make no more purchases on account of that Frigate — you are also requested to desire M'r William Herbert to make out a full and particular return of all Articles received by him for the public use, since M'r [undecipherable] discharge, and transmit the same to this office with utmost dispatch, that measures may be speedily taken to dispose of what may be deemed perishable, agreeable to the Act of Congress. [[undecipherable] Quincy Clerk of Navy Yard Portsmouth] Sir [Ditto] War Office April 27^th 1796 You will please to make out a very particular Statement of what Articles have been received into the Navy Yard on Account of the Frigate building at Portsmouth, since the commencement of the Naval business; which you are requested to do with the utmost punctuality and dispatch, and transmit it to this Office, that measures may be speedily taken agreeable to a late Act of Congress for selling that part which may be deemed perishable. You are desired to range them as follows — 1^st The number of pieces of Timber must be ranged under distinct heads, with the feet they contain and 2^d The different kinds and quantities of Materials ranged in the same manner. 3^d what Articles are of a perishable nature. and 4^th Observations on the places where those Articles are kept. [G'l Silas Talbot New York] Sir [Ditto] War Office April 27^th 1796 You will please to get a very particular Statement made out of what articles have been received into the Navy Yard, on Account of the Frigate building at New York, since the commencement of the Naval business; which you are requested to have done with the utmost dispatch