[Purveyors Office 19 Oct. 179[undecipherable: last digit obscured by ink blot]] [postal marking: 13 in circle] [FREE] M^r Josiah Fox at the Navy Yard Portsmouth— Free [undecipherable] Purveyor New Hampshire Philadelphia 18. Octob. 1796— M^r Josiah Fox Sir The Proposals made by Ellicot and James Hills for furnishing the Iron Work for the Frigate building at Portsmouth for the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable], were put into my hands by the Secretary of the Treasury. I have to [undecipherable] on the 1 Proposition That I have no Objection to closing with this, say Five dollars [undecipherable] hundred [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] dollars for the Iron Equal to Eleven dollars [undecipherable] hundred [undecipherable]. 2 Proposition. I Object to any charge being made for Cutting Bolts, it is not done here, and for drawing them smaller if they are made too large, surely the Smith ought to make them to the Size required. Five Cents for [undecipherable] may be Admitted. 3 Proposition:— I have no Objection to this provided we pay for Iron only. [undecipherable] with that they have a custom in some [undecipherable] of New England of charging [undecipherable] Iron the whole weight of the Bolts &[strikethrough: [undecipherable]] this is not done here. If Mess^rs Hills will Agree to the above, they may depend on M^r [undecipherable] closing with them. In your [undecipherable] that they do [undecipherable] of Agreement conformable will be [undecipherable] at the Treasury and forwarded for execution. I am with respect [signature] [undecipherable] Purveyor