[The Secretary / the Treasury] Sir, War Office September 12. 1796. Mr George Claghorne the Constructor of the Frigate now Building at Boston has been authorised to select such pieces of Timber at Norfolk Virginia as may be found there, suitable for the said Frigate. You will be pleased therefore to take order that he may be provided with the means for the transportation to Boston. [M^r Claghorne] Sir, War Office September 12. 1796. You will be pleased to proceed to Norfolk in Virginia to examine the Timber which has been represented there belonging to the United States, and select therefrom such pieces as may be wanted to complete the Frigate Building at Boston. I have written to the Secretary of the Treasury to have order taken relative to its transportation. [Mr David [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] to the / [undecipherable] Commissioner of / the Timber in the / [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] / Virginia.] Sir, War Office September 12. 1796. Be pleased to deliver Mr George Claghorne the [undecipherable] thereof such pieces of Timber as may be in your charge as he shall think proper for the use of the Frigate now building at Boston. [The Secretary / the Treasury] Sir, War Office September 13. 1796. There will be wanted for the Frigate destined for the Mediterranean twenty four new pounders and twelve six pounders and [strikethrough: the] [by] the Frigates now under construction fifty twelve pounders; it is requested therefore that a Contract may be entered into for the delivery of this number of Cannon on or before the [undecipherable] next ensuing. [undecipherable] advantageous as [undecipherable] [undecipherable] dispatches with the person who may engage to furnish them, it may be proper, that the Contract should comprise the following conditions. 1. That the Guns be cast in the solid and bored. 2. That the twenty four nine pounders and twelve six pounders vary [undecipherable] exactly in weight [undecipherable] calibre and length to British Ship Guns of the same dimensions [undecipherable]. 3. But the [undecipherable] twelve pounders be formed agreeably to the dimensions laid down in the annexed draught. 4. That the Guns after having been bored and before undergoing any proof, shall be examined by one or two persons to be appointed by the President of the United States in the presence of such other persons as shall be named by the owner of the works. That this examination shall commence by a verification of the [undecipherable] the diameter of the different parts, and ascertainment whether there are more internal and external cavities or defects than are specified in the annexed table exhibiting the defects which are to be tolerated. Inasmuch as where the bore in calibre is found to be in [undecipherable] the diameter prescribed, and the defects not greater than those tolerated, the Cannon shall be returned to the boring machine to be enlarged, after being proved, and in cases where the defects are greater than those tolerated, the Examination shall cease, and the Cannon be rejected. 5. That the instruments commonly employed to ascertain dimensions and discover cavities or holes in the exterior and internal parts of Guns shall be used in such occasions. 6. That the touch hole must end in the cannon at the middle of the rounding of the Angle at the bottom of the bore. That shall any holes be found in the touch hole deeper than the twentieth of an inch the Cannon cannot be admitted to [undecipherable] unless the same shall have been filled up with [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. 7. That the Trunnions must be perpendicular to the vertical plane, which is supposed to pass through the touch hole so as to cut the bore into two equal parts. That the upper part of the Trunnion shall be level with the [undecipherable] the calibre or bore and the usual relations of weight be preserved between the Breech and Chase. 8. That the [undecipherable] Cannon shall be proved as follows viz: Each Cannon shall be proved by two [undecipherable] charges, the weight of the powder for the first [undecipherable] equal to two thirds of the weight of the ball and for the second [undecipherable] pounders [undecipherable] exactly [undecipherable] Shall be equal to half the weight of the ball. The Cartridge shall be well rammed down within and over it, two wads shall be placed over that with a wad of hay between them and a wad over which shall be well rammed down. The holes to be measured so as to allow a sufficient windage, and approved of by the Officers who shall make the experiment, and the owner of the works or any person whom he may appoint for that purpose. 9. That to ascertain the strength of the Trunnions the Cannon must be placed on two pieces of wood having indentations large enough to receive the Cheeks of the Trunnions and with the Tinder piece at a sufficient distance from above the Trunnions lodges, so that the Breech may be inclined in any direction but never so as to rest on the ground. The proof Gunpowder must be made on those pieces of wood. 10. That the Cannon which shall have stood the proof of Gunpowder shall be raised, two of the temporary carriage, and placed upon a supporter, so that they may be filled with water; that whilst the water is being [undecipherable] poured [undecipherable] throughout any part of the Cannon, it cannot be proved as it has stood proof. 11. That the Cannon which shall have stood the aforesaid examination and proof [undecipherable] shall be subject nevertheless to be re-examined, and should one be later selected, or the ones blended, found to have been enlarged by the boring, all such Cannon must undergo a second proof; but if one discovers only, when the holes exhibit no further enlargement, they shall be admitted and excepted after being weighed. 12. That the weight of each Cannon received shall be marked on the last Trunnion. As Cannon which have not undergone the above examination and proof are to be used by the United States without putting the success of their military undertakings in which they may be engaged at risk, and as the principles and regulations here laid down have been the result of much experience, and long adopted for the manufacture of Cannon by the principal Nations in Europe, they may be considered as guides that ought not to be departed from. It is requisite therefore that the Contract shall be so formed as to ensure a strict and punctual compliance with each and all of the above mentioned conditions. P.S. The draught for the 12 pounders, which is in hand, will be furnished in a few days. [underline: Defects to be tolerated on Cannons for the use of the Marine of the United States.] [Depth of an inch] Bore more than the prescribed diameter . . . . . . 1 less than idem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ¼ Interior holes Depth of the interior holes . . . . . . . . . . 2¾ a succession of little holes one of which will be . . . . 1½ Mouths Trunnions [undecipherable] direction towards the muzzle . . . . . 2½ [undecipherable] direction parallel with the surface . . 4 a succession of little holes one of which with be . . . 7 Exterior holes Upon the Chace surface Directed towards the muzzle . . . . . . 2¼ [undecipherable] direction parallel with the surface . . 4½ A continuation of little holes [undecipherable] . . 7 Upon the band and under [undecipherable] of the Trunnions . . . . . . 4 A [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the front and upper part of the Trunnions . . . . [undecipherable] [Holes at the edge of the muzzle] if they are in a direction towards the muzzle and if they are ¹/₁₀ of an inch deep the Cannon cannot be received. It shall also be rejected if the holes are ¹/₁₀ of an inch deep and are directed towards the muzzle. Upon the diameter more than . . . . . . . . 7 less than . . . . . . . . [undecipherable] Upon the exterior position of the [undecipherable] . . . . . . 1¼ Touch hole Upon the ¼ of the interior [undecipherable] In front [undecipherable] where [undecipherable] ought [undecipherable] . . 1¼ Behind the same . . . . . . . . . . 1¼ The holes in the interior part of the Touch hole to be above ¹/₁₀ of an inch deep.