[M^r Josiah Fox Naval Constructor Philadelphia] [Portm^o. N.H. Nov 30 1796 — 3 30 Nos 2 James Hackett ¹4 [undecipherable] ²6 8] Portm^o. N.H. Nov 30^th 1796 M^r Josiah Fox D^r Sir Since you left this place we have made tolerable progress on the Frigate building for the mediterr Service — She has all her Floors acrop and every Frame Bend up — It is my intention to keep as many hands employed on her, the ensuing winter as can operate to advantage; but unless a Remittance is made me, you know it will be absolutely impossi ble for me to prosecute the Business — Almost three months have elapsed since the commencement of it & I have not yet recieved one single Cent although I have solicited the Secretary of War on the subject several times Your friendship which I have always experienced since my acquaintance with you I am sensible will on this occasion be particularly usefull to me — I have been under the necessity to hire money from the Bank, and shall in a short time be obligd to suspend all operations on the Ship unlefs some money is forwarded to me — Five or Six Thousand Dollars would answer my purposes for the present, & I do not conceive that less than that sum would answer If it is not already sent I shall consider myself much obligd to you if you will state this matter to the Secretary of War and inform him of the necessity of his ordering me the above mentioned sum as I before observed I shall shall be obligd to stop the Frigate unless the money is forwarded to me shortly With my Regards to yourself & Mrs Fox — I am Your obligd Friend & Servant James Hackett — P.S. Nothing has yet been settled on the pro [undecipherable] of the M^r Hills, they have furni[shed] the Iron Work for the Ship hitherto and are very desirous to have the business settled on some permanent grounds — they have provided all the Iron that has been used, but have recieved no money on acc^t of it, which they want very much — I must trouble once farther on the subject of [undecipherable] Trunails, as those of Locust cannot be obtained here whether good seasoned M.O. will not answer the purpose — you know there is no other kind used for the British Navy nor no other kind to be had here —