[War Office James McHenry] FREE M^r Josiah Fox Portsmouth New Hampshire [circular seal] [postal notations, right margin, partially illegible: 8p / [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] / [tally marks] / [tally marks] / [tally marks]] [bottom right corner, rotated: Philad. Sept 13. 1796 / author of [undecipherable] —] War Office Sept 13. 1796. D^r Sir I do myself the pleasure to enclose you two letters from your friend. The letters which have been sent to M^r Hacket I suppose have given you information respecting the building off frigate at Portsmouth you will therefore please to excuse me from of writing on that subject as a rough press of business ingrosses my whole time. The Yard which you had in view at Coerlaers hook I believe M^r Cheesman met a disappointment getting, but I believe he has procured another. M^r Blackburn has been here from Boston. he obtained some pieces from M^r Humphreys. he set out this morning for Baltimore and Norfolk and has authority to select and forward all such pieces at those places as will suit for his Ship, except such as may best wanted for Truxtun — till we hear from him I suppose no orders will open for shipping any Timber from Portsmouth. You will excuse the [undecipherable] as I am in a great hurry and the [undecipherable] just ready to depart I am Yours &c [signature]