Articles of agreement made on the twenty-fifth day of October, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, between Oliver Wolcott, junior, Secretary of the Treasury of the United States of America, for and on behalf of the said States, of the one part, and Samuel Hughes, of Cecil County, State of Maryland, of the other part, he being fully authorized to do so, of the other part. THIS INDENTURE, WITNESSETH, That the faid Oliver Wolcott, junior, for and on behalf of the United States of America, and the faid Samuel Hughes, for and on behalf of the faid Cecil Company, and by virtue of the powers to him granted, have mutually covenanted and agreed, and by their prefents do mutually covenant and agree, as follows: Firft. That the faid Samuel Hughes, on behalf of the Cecil Company, fhall, on or before the firft day of May, now next enfuing, deliver for the ufe of the United States, to fuch perfon as may be defignated by the Secretary of War, twenty-four iron cannon, to carry iron ball of nine pounds weight; twelve iron cannon, to carry ball of like metal, of fix pounds weight; and forty iron cannon, to carry ball of like metal, of twelve pounds weight. Secondly. That the faid cannon fhall be caft in the folid, and bored. Thirdly. That the faid cannon, nine pounders, twelve, and fix pounders, fhall conform exactly in weight, bore, caliber and length, to Britifh fhip guns of the fame defcription now in ufe. Fourthly. That the forty twelve pounders, fhall be formed agreeably to the dimenfions fpecified in the draught furnifhed by the Secretary of War. Fifthly. That the faid cannon, after having been bored, and before undergoing any proof, fhall be examined by a competent perfon, to be appointed by the Prefident of the United States, in the prefence of fuch other perfon as may be named by the faid Samuel Hughes, on behalf of the Cecil Company; which examination fhall communicate the verification of the diameter of the different parts, location of the trunnions, and afcertainment whether there are more internal and external cavities or defects than are fpecified in the table annexed to this inftrument, exhibiting the defects which are to be tolerated; and in all cafes, where the bore or caliber is found of worfe than the diameter prefcribed, the cannon fhall be returned to the boring machine, to be enlarged before being proved; and in all cafes where defects fhall be greater than thofe tolerated in the faid table, or trunnions mifplaced, the examination fhall ceafe, and the cannon be rejected. Sixthly. That the inftruments commonly employed to afcertain dimenfions and difcover cavities or holes in the external and internal parts of guns, fhall be ufed on fuch occafions. Seventhly. That the touch hole fhall end in the cannon at the middle of the rounding of the angle at the bottom of the bore; and if any holes fhall be found in the faid hole deeper than one fifteenth of a part of an inch, the cannon are not to be admitted to proof until the fame fhall have been filled up with beaten iron. Eighthly. That the trunnions fhall be perpendicular to the venticle plane, which is fuppofed to pafs through the bore hole, and to be divided into two equal parts. The upper part of the trunnions fhall be level with the center of the caliber or bore; and the ufual relative weight fhall be preferved between the breech and cafe. Ninthly. That the proof by powder, fhall be as follows—viz. Each cannon fhall be proved by two fucceffive difcharges. The weight of the powder for the firft difcharge, fhall be equal to two-thirds of the weight of the ball; and for the fecond, equal to half the weight of the ball. The cartridge to be well rammed down, with a wad over it. Two balls to be placed over the cartridge, with a wad between them and a wad above, which alfo fhall be well rammed down. The balls to be meafured fo as to allow a fufficient windage; and approved balls, the aprons will fall next to the touch-hole; and the faid Samuel Hughes, on behalf of the Cecil Company, or any perfon he may appoint for that purpofe.