[undecipherable] [Page illegible — archival placeholder reads: "Some or all of the pages of this file are wholly or in part illegible. We have not been able either to locate a better copy of the document, or to enhance its legibility electronically"] [undecipherable: Sir?] Boston [undecipherable: August?] 4^th 1796 I have received your agreeable to the application given me [undecipherable] last letters, Mr [undecipherable], [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] to proposed Frigate. There is a quantity of White Oak [undecipherable: Plan Timber?] [undecipherable] lying under order in the [undecipherable] in this [undecipherable] suitable for that Ships, within 100 [undecipherable] references [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] for the Frigate under [undecipherable: consideration?]. I have [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] the [undecipherable: Clerk?] of the yard to take a particular account of the [undecipherable: sizes and Dimensions?] at the most [undecipherable] Capt [undecipherable: Thomson?] & Mr [undecipherable: Laughton?] are very [undecipherable], on their [undecipherable], to the Public [undecipherable] and I am convinced that the [undecipherable] [undecipherable: for all the same?] Old families [undecipherable] arrived, every great progress would have been made the Summers, the last [undecipherable] besides [undecipherable: lately?] arrived [undecipherable] and Mr [undecipherable: Laughton?] is anxious to have [undecipherable] on,) to [undecipherable] not this [undecipherable] as I have good reason to [undecipherable] but if no [undecipherable] before the winter season sets in the [undecipherable] can be [undecipherable: employed?] to advantage during the inclement [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable: Winter Months?] Every part of the Naval [undecipherable] has been proceeded with perseverance and great exertions/ except those most [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable: Clerk?], which I am sorry to Say appears very much [undecipherable: Neglected?] and care is taken by Mr. [undecipherable: Laughton?] and Capt [undecipherable: Nicholson?] that all [undecipherable] correspond with the orders and forward from the [undecipherable: War?] Office [undecipherable: B16?] at [undecipherable] now an opportunity of [undecipherable: Saying?] that the [undecipherable], as [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] I know [undecipherable] and as [undecipherable] as the most [undecipherable] most [undecipherable], all Business was already ceased and [undecipherable] but the [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] Place, [undecipherable] at [undecipherable: Philadelphia?], has no resources the [undecipherable] to be considerably [undecipherable]. Mr [undecipherable] [undecipherable] takes the bill [undecipherable] of the Money [undecipherable: Years?] at [undecipherable] for 200 dollars. [undecipherable] [undecipherable: commissioned?] [undecipherable] the proposed Frigate to build the [undecipherable] of this is not, but [undecipherable] 400 in the [undecipherable: current?] money in new [undecipherable]. The Government [undecipherable] the Agent [undecipherable] [undecipherable] off with [undecipherable] [undecipherable: Tomorrow Morning?] for [undecipherable: Portsmouth?] I have not had any [undecipherable: news?] from the [undecipherable: Builder?] on [undecipherable] [undecipherable: Capt?] [undecipherable] there is not [undecipherable] here capable of [undecipherable] [undecipherable: taking?] [undecipherable: Timber?] Work I [undecipherable: waited?] on [undecipherable] Mr [undecipherable] a few days ago, and now on this [undecipherable] is a [undecipherable: person?] that [undecipherable: holds?] [undecipherable: considerable?] [undecipherable: Concerns?] in two [undecipherable: Shipments?] of [undecipherable: Navets?] [undecipherable] for Europe he has [undecipherable: given?] me [undecipherable: expectations?] of [undecipherable] his interest on a few days [undecipherable] and [undecipherable: they?] should be forwarded to the War Office [undecipherable: immediately?]. Secretary of War [undecipherable: Josiah Fox?]