Ports^mo (N H) 28^th Apr^r 1796 Sir I rec^d your letter of the Instant and Agreably to your Request herewith inclose you Electra & James Hills terms for Provoiding the Iron for the proposed Frigate, which I hope will meet your approbation. M^r [undecipherable] requests me to inquire at what time, & in what Manner the Payments are to be made, how as he would main expects to be paid weekly, he thereupon beg some Money may be remitted him in advance, that he may be enabled to push the [undecipherable] forward with the greatest vigour. I remain Sir with the Greatest [esteem] your obedt Serv^t O'Hon^ble James McHenry, Josiah Fox Proposals by Electra Hill and James Hill for provoiding the Iron Work of a Small Frigate in Contemplation to be built in this port on account of the United States—— Propos^d 1^st They will Complete all the Ironwork for the Hull of said Frigate at four, dollars p^r Thonn—— 2^d They will Rivett all the bolts in [undecipherable] Ships at 3 Cents [undecipherable] and Calk and Head them at 3 Cents each— But in case they should Want drawing, the Cutting and bencing, need to be [undecipherable] in the working, and they must be Charged at the Same prices as the other Irons work for the [undecipherable] [5701] 3^d The Anvill work for the Pumps, Comboes, and Rigging commonly denominated under the Name of Smith Work is not [undecipherable: probable reading Comprehended] in the foregoing proposals All the Hooks & Thimbles, except [undecipherable] Thimbles, with all Straps for Blocks &c shall be Charged at five Dollars p^r Thonn and the Harris work shall be Charged at the Customary prices for [undecipherable: probable reading repairs] in the [undecipherable] house of the Same Size. The payments for the above works to be made quarterly, and the Iron to be provided by the United States on Seasons, and it is [undecipherable] request that the Moneys may be forwarded the ensuing weeks. (S) Portsmo^th (N H) Appr 10^th 1796 Signed {Electra Hill} {James Hill} Blacksmiths [Copy] (S) Portsmouth (N^o 3C) Sep^r 10^th 1796 Sir, your [undecipherable] Sir We received your letter of the [undecipherable] Instant requesting us to make our proposals for doing the Iron Work of a Small Frigate in Contemplation to be built in this port for the [undecipherable] of the United States. We accordingly [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of your [undecipherable] and now do ourselves the pleasure of furnishing you our pro=posals, which upon well [undecipherable] are the [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. We have [undecipherable] our Calculations at the Lower rate we can afford to do the said work for, and hopes they will prove agreeable. Owing to the [fluctuating] prices of Iron we cannot with any [precision] inform you, what we could do the work for [furnishing] the Iron. We are Sir with respect your very Ob^dt Serv^ts M^r Josiah Fox signed} {Electra Hill} Blacksmiths Portsmouth. {James Hill}