Philad.^a Navy Yard Sep.^t 16. 1796 Sir your of 4 Inst^t. came to hand. The quarter deck fore castle & lower deck may be of that country Yellow Nor=way pine, but it would be improper to admitt the Trenails of Oak, they should at all events be of Locust. a little exertions will soon procure them — No attempt has been made to my Knowledge to set the Frigate on fire, but it was necessary to have a guard to prevent accidents as fire is kept under the Boiler all night and to prevent small stuff from being stolen; A report prevailed here to the same effect. — Our Orlope & lower deck Beams are in I am Respectfully Joshua Humphreys Navy Constructor M^r Josiah Fox [Address leaf:] M^r Josiah Fox / Portsmouth / New Hampshire [notation:] 22 [Docket:] Phila. aa^t 16 Sept.^r 1796 / Joshua Humphreys — / M^r Hackett may use his Country yellow pine for the Quarter. Forecastle & lower deck of the proposed Frigate / but no oak Trunnails / X