[War Office / James McHenry] [FREE] [seal] M^r Josiah Fox Portsmouth New Hampshire [seal] [War Office Sept. 21. 1796 Secretary of War orders for selecting the timber and Planks for the proposed Frigate— X] War Office 21 September 1796. Sir, I have received your letter of the 11 instant. All plank either Oak or Pine, Masts Spars and Timber of every description not expressly to be reserved by your [underline: instructions] of the 12 and 22^d July Ultimo and proper to build the vessel Sketch A in said Instructions may be used for that purpose. I shall give M^r Sheafe orders for its delivery. You will therefore proceed to select the different pieces and kinds wanted by M^r Hacket and have the value of the whole ascertained agreeably to the mode pointed out in my letter of September 1^st. To prevent any disputes hereafter M^r Hacket must give a receipt for them and an acknowledgment to owe to the United States the amount of the sum at which the whole may be valued. My idea is that the timber so destined for the said [undecipherable] must be immediately separated from that to be reserved, and the whole valued after which it is to be at M^r Hackets risque — I am Sir Your ob^d Servant James McHenry M^r Josiah Fox