[The Secretary The Treasury] War Office September 13. 1796 Sir, There will be wanted for the Frigate destined for the Mediterranean twenty four nine 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] ensuing. [A] deviation as a matter of [undecipherable] despatch with the [undecipherable] 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 [be?] [undecipherable] exactly in weight, [size?] caliber, and [length?] to British Ship Guns of the same dimensions [shown?]. 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 persons as shall be named by the owner of the works. That this examination shall commence as a verification of the [undecipherable] the diameters of the different [undecipherable] 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. [When there are more defects than the dimensions 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 [undecipherable] as [undecipherable] the defects are greater than those tolerated, the examination shall cease, and the Cannon be rejected.] 5. That the instruments commonly employed to ascertain [undecipherable] and discover cavities or holes in the external 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 air holes be found in the touch hole deeper than the twentieth of an inch; the Cannon cannot be admitted to proof [undecipherable] the same shall have been ever filled up with [lead?] or [undecipherable]. 7. That the [Rammers?] 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 [Rammer?] shall be level with the [undecipherable] the caliber of bore and the [undecipherable] the usual relations [in?] weight be preserved between the Breech and Chase. 8. That the [proof?] [undecipherable] Powder shall be as follows [viz?]: Each Cannon shall be proved by two [inscriptions?]; the weight of the [undecipherable] for the first discharge [shall be?] equal to two thirds of the weight of the ball and for the second [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 ventage; 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 [Rammers?] the Cannon must be placed on two pieces of wood having indentations large enough to receive the [flanks?], the [Rammers?] and with the tinder [part?] at a sufficient distance from above the [Rammers?] [target?] so that the touch may be inclined in any direction but never so as to rest on the ground. The proof [undecipherable] powder must be made on these pieces of wood. 10. That the Cannon which shall have stood the proof of its powder shall be raised, [freed?] of the [temporary?] carriage and placed upon a supporter so that they may be filled with water. That whilst the water is being [poured?] [undecipherable] filled [through?] any part of the Cannon, it cannot be received as it has stood proof. 11. That the Cannon which shall have stood the aforesaid examination and proof shall be subject nevertheless [undecipherable] to be [reinspected?], and [should?] [new?] [holes?] [detected?] or the [holes?] [enlarged?] by the firing, all such Cannon must undergo a second proof; but if on a [small?] distance only, when the holes exhibit no further enlargement, they shall be admitted and accepted; [undecipherable] after being weighed. 12. That the [several?] [proof?] Cannon received shall be marked on the list [undecipherable] successive[ly?]. As Cannon which have not undergone the above examination and proof [undecipherable] be used by the United States without putting the success of those military undertakings in which they may be engaged at risk, and as the principles and regulations here laid down have been [undecipherable] 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 requested 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 in Cannon for the use of the Navy of the United States.] [Table: Depth of fault in Lines] Bore: more than the prescribed diameter . . . 1 less than idem . . . ¼ Interior holes: Depth of the interior holes . . . 2½ a succession of little holes one of which will be . . . 1½ Upon the [Rammers?]: [direction?] towards the muzzle . . . 2½ [direction?] parallel with the [surface?] . . . 4 a succession of little holes, one of which will be . . . 7 Exterior holes: Upon the [exterior?] surface [direction?] towards the muzzle . . . 2¾ [direction?] parallel with the surface . . . 4¾ a continuation of little holes, one of [which?] . . . 7 Upon the [head?] and center [axis?] of the [Rammers?] . . . 4 A [depth?] [undecipherable] inch [undecipherable] with all [undecipherable] exterior upon the first and upper part of the [Rammers?] . . . [undecipherable] Holes at the edge of the muzzle: if they are in a direction towards the muzzle and if they are [undecipherable] inch deep the Cannon cannot be received. It shall also be rejected if the holes are [undecipherable] deep and are directed towards the muzzle. Upon the diameter: more than . . . ¾ less than . . . [undecipherable] Upon the exterior portion of the [Breech?] . . . 1¾ Touch holes: Upon the [undecipherable] of the interior [undecipherable]: [in front?] [undecipherable] . . . 1¾ [undecipherable] . . . 1¾ Behind the same . . . 1¾ The holes in the interior part of the Touch to be there [undecipherable] inch deep.