44 (Z.) WAR OFFICE, September 13^th, 1796. Sir, THERE will be wanted for the frigate destined for the Mediterranean, twenty-four nine pounders, and twelve six pounders; and for the three frigates now under construction, forty 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 first of April ensuing. To obviate as much as possible dispute 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 nine pounders and twenty-four and twelve six pounders, conform exactly in weight, bore, caliber and length, to British ship guns of the same dimensions now in use. 3. That the forty twelve pounders, be formed agreeably to the dimensions laid down in the annexed drawing. 4. That the guns, after having been bored, and before undergoing any proof, shall be examined by expert inspectors, 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 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. That in all cases where the bore or caliber is found to be less than the diameter prescribed, and the defects not greater than those tolerated, the cannon will be returned to the boring machine, to be enlarged, before being proved; and in all 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 external and internal parts of guns, shall be used on such occasion. 6. That the touch hole shall end in the cannon, at the middle of the rounding of the seat of the reinforce of the bore. That should any holes be found in the touch hole, deeper than the twentieth of an inch, the cannon cannot be admitted to proof. That interior holes shall have no depth more than beaten iron. 7. That the proof by powder, shall be as follows—viz. Each cannon shall be proved by two successive discharges. The first, or the powder for the first discharge, shall be equal to two-thirds of the weight of the ball; and for the second, equal to half the weight of the ball. The cannon shall be first rammed down, with a wad over it; two balls shall be placed over that, with a wad after them, and over that a wad over, which shall be rammed hard down; the balls to be measured, so as to allow a sufficient windage, and approved of by the officers who shall take the examination, and the owner of the works, or any person whom he may appoint for that purpose. 8. To ascertain the strength of six trunnions, the cannon must be placed on two pieces of wood, having indentions large enough to receive two-thirds of the trunnions, and with the hinder part at a sufficient distance from where the trunnions rest, so that the breech may be raised to any direction, but never so as to rest on the ground. The proof by powder, must be made on these pieces of wood. 10. That the cannon which shall have stood the proof by powder, shall be raised from off the temporary carriage and placed upon a supporter, so that they may be filled with water. That should the water, on being compressed, filter through any part of the cannon, it cannot be received, though it has stood proof. 11. That the cannon which shall have stood the aforesaid examination and proofs, shall be subject nevertheless to be re-examined; and should new holes be detected, or the ones tolerated, found to have been enlarged by the firing, all such cannon must undergo a second proof, but of one discharge only; when if the holes exhibit no further enlargement, they shall be admitted, and receipted for, after being weighed. 12. That the weight of each cannon received, shall be marked on the left trunnion. As cannon which have not undergone the above examination and proofs, cannot 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 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 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. (Signed) JAMES M^cHENRY. P. S. The draught for the twelve pounders, which is in hand, will be furnished in a few days. *Defects to be tolerated in Cannon, for the use of the Marine of the United States.*                                                                                                     Tenths of an inch. Bore. { More than the prescribed diameter, - - 1         { Less than idem, - - ½ Interior holes. { Depth of the interior holes, - - 2½                 { A succession of little holes, one of which will be, 1½                          { In a direction towards the muzzle, 2½ Upon the             { In a direction parallel with the surface, 4 reinforce.             { A succession of little holes, one of which                            will be, - - 2 Exterior holes. { Upon the   { Directed towards the muzzle, - 2½                    { volu or    { In a direction parallel with the surface, 4½                    { chafe.      { A continuation of little holes, one of which                                        will be, - - 2                 Upon the hind and upper part of the trunnions, 4                 A tenth of an inch more will be tolerated upon the                 front and upper part of the trunnions. Holes at the edge   { If they are in a direction towards the muzzle, and if they of the muzzle.        { are ⁴/₂₀ of an inch deep, the cannon cannot be received.                 It shall also be refused if the holes are ⁴/₂₀ of an inch deep,                 and are directed towards the muzzle.                 { Upon the   { More than - - - ½                 { diameter. { Less than - - - - ½                 Upon the exterior position of the orifice, - 1½ Touch hole. { Upon that { In front of the point where it ought }               { interior   { to be, - - - - - } 2½               { orifice.   { Behind the same, - - - 1½               The holes in the interior part of the touch hole, those               ½ tenth of an inch deep. JAMES M^cHENRY. *Secretary of the Treasury.*