[undecipherable: each Side?] Portsmouth N. H. Jan^y 6^th 1797 Dear Sir, I duly received your esteemed favour of the 12^th Ult^o of [undecipherable] the Contents — The reason Col. Hackett did not receive his money sooner was on account of M. Whipple the Collector, being for some time at his farm in the Country. I [undecipherable] your hints Respecting M. [undecipherable]'s application for the Frigate business, and what you mention [undecipherable] the probability of M. Quincy being displaced in consequence — If that should be the case it appears to me that it will be in the power of other persons to take what they please and without any kind of Check, as he Certainly has the best knowledge of every Stick of Timber and all the Materials belonging to the Continent — (are you [undecipherable] the Small Frigate is building within a few Rods of the other Frigates [undecipherable] can [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] Timber, Kivel, [undecipherable] block from the [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] bring Storms into temptation [undecipherable] make matters agree to the [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] government. I think it demands [undecipherable]. I think these [undecipherable] occasions for the Clerk's attention than when the [undecipherable] Frigates [undecipherable] — M. [undecipherable] M. Farmer [undecipherable] Quincy [undecipherable] they more [undecipherable] now displeased [undecipherable]. I [undecipherable] follow them with [undecipherable] continual going over, unable [undecipherable] to the contrary [undecipherable] — I have nothing [undecipherable] many [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Respectfully [undecipherable] and some [undecipherable] — Approve you [undecipherable] — You having been [undecipherable] judgment, whether I have done my [undecipherable] as [undecipherable] Judge? I have been near [undecipherable] years in the [undecipherable] my Pension [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] you [undecipherable] Dollars — Know [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Frigate business was [undecipherable], [undecipherable] ought to perfect the [undecipherable] of the Small Frigate — [undecipherable] from to you in this place [undecipherable] be happy to [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] with Esteem & Respect. Jacobs Sheafe P.S. there seems to be nothing [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] with Major Hills all the Iron work for the Small Frigate they have [undecipherable] on account [undecipherable] tons of Iron [undecipherable] Providing you [undecipherable] Readily [undecipherable] them to go over they have [undecipherable] William [undecipherable] wishes the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the other [undecipherable] hands — [undecipherable] he has brought a large [undecipherable] of Iron from [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Jefferson wishes to [undecipherable] from it in [undecipherable] Hills again [undecipherable] it will give [undecipherable] be [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] with the [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] —