[Left margin: The Secretary of the Treasury] Sir, War Office September 12. 1796. M^r George Claighorne the Constructor of the Frigate now Building at Boston has been authorized 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 its transportation to Boston. [Left margin: M^r Claighorne] Sir, War Office September 12. 1796. You will be pleased to proceed to Norfolk in Virginia to examine the Timber which has been deposited 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. [Left margin: M^r David [undecipherable] to come to the naval [undecipherable] Inspector of the timber in [undecipherable] Virginia] Sir, War Office September 12 1796. Be pleased to deliver M^r George Claighorne the [undecipherable] 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. [Left margin: The Secretary of the Treasury] Sir, War Office September 13. 1796. There will be wanted for the Frigate destined for the Mediterranean twenty four [undecipherable] pounders and twelve six pounders and [undecipherable] 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] and ensuing. It deserves an earnest [undecipherable] speedily despatch with the [undecipherable] this person who may engage to furnish them, it may be proper that the Contract should comprise the following conditions. 1. That the Guns to be cast in the solid and bored. 2. That the twenty four nine pounders and twelve six pounders [undecipherable] aim exactly in weight; [undecipherable] calibre and length to British Ship Guns of the same dimensions known. 3. But the fifty 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 person as shall be named by the owner of the works. That this examination shall commence by a verification of the [undecipherable] the diameters 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. If the pieces are within the bore in calibre agreed to be [undecipherable] from the diameter prescribed, and the defects not greater than those tolerated, the Cannon shall be returned to the boring machine to be enlarged, before being proved; and in pieces 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 on 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 no bolt holes be found in the touch hole deeper than the twentieth of an inch; the Cannon cannot be admitted to proof if the same shall have been filled up with lead or [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 [undecipherable]. That the upper part of the Trunnions shall be level with the [undecipherable] the calibre or bore and the [undecipherable] the usual relations in weight between the Breech and Chase. 8. That the proof to be proved shall be as follows, viz; Each Cannon shall be proved by two overcharges the first equal to two thirds of the weight of the ball and for the second the weight of the [undecipherable] for the first discharge. Shall be equal to half the weight of the ball. The Cartridge shall be well rammed down within and over it, two balls shall be placed over that with a wad of [undecipherable] between them and a wad over which shall be well rammed down. The balls to be measured so as to allow a sufficient windage, and approved of by the Officers who shall make the experiments 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 Shanks of the Trunnions and with the Trunnion part at a sufficient distance from where the Trunnion lodges so that the breach 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 from the [undecipherable] carriage and placed upon a supporter so that they may be filled with water. That, should the water on being [undecipherable] filled through any part of the Cannon it cannot be recorded that it has stood proof. 11. That the Cannon which shall have stood the aforesaid examination and proof shall be subject nevertheless to be re-examined, and should any mistake detected, or the ones blended found to have been enlarged to the boring, all such Cannon must undergo a second proof, but of one discharge only; when of the holes exhibit no further enlargement, they shall be admitted and accepted for 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 examinations and proof are to be used by the United States without putting the success of those military undertakings in which they may be engaged to risk, and as the principles and regulations here laid down have been the the result of much experience, and long adopted for the verification 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 haste, will be furnished in a few days. [underline: Defects to be tolerated in Cannons for the use of the Marine of the United States.] [column header: Depth of [undecipherable] in [undecipherable]] Bore { more than the prescribed diameter . . . 1/[undecipherable] { less than idem . . . 1/4 Interior holes { Depth of the interior holes . . . 2[undecipherable]/4 { a succession of little holes out of which will be . . . 1[undecipherable]/4 { [undecipherable] direction toward the muzzle . . . 2[undecipherable]/4 Aperths Trunnions { horizontal [undecipherable] with the surface . . . 4 { a succession of little holes out of which will be . . . 7 { directed towards the muzzle . . . 1[undecipherable]/4 Exterior holes Upon the [undecipherable] { horizontal parallel with the surface . . . 4[undecipherable]/4 { A combination of little holes of [undecipherable] of which to [undecipherable] . . . 7 Upon the band and under part of the Trunnions . . . 4 A depth from [undecipherable] over the [undecipherable] exposed part of the [undecipherable] and upper part of the Trunnions [undecipherable] . . . [undecipherable] Holes at the edge of { If they are in a direction towards the muzzle only, if they are [undecipherable] of an inch deep the Cannon cannot be received. the muzzle { It shall also be refused if the holes are [undecipherable] of an inch deep and are directed towards the muzzle. Upon the diameter { more than . . . [undecipherable] { less than . . . [undecipherable] Upon the exterior position of the [undecipherable] . . . 1[undecipherable]/4 { Upon [undecipherable] of the interior bore { In front the point where [undecipherable] is cut [undecipherable] . . . 1[undecipherable]/4 Touch hole { { Behind the same . . . 1[undecipherable]/4 Any holes in the interior part of the Touch to be [undecipherable] those [undecipherable] of an inch deep.