[New york Feb. 23. 1797 Forman Cheesman] Navy Yard New York January 23. Dear Sir I received yours of 17^th tho not until so days after I should have done, owing to the person bwh it was delivered of the penny post at [undecipherable] you would ha been answered sooner —— The gross Amount of the first return of Treenails elected for [undecipherable] mount out: 16830 — 44s Length inches — Those in addition to make at the last return (which 36 —— 1200 —— stand against 24 —— 3000 — — — 320 their lengths. 20 —— 3000 — — — 480 13 —— 8000 ——— 390 16 —— 1630 —— 16830 — — — 16830 Total shipped to Portsmouth / 16020 agreeable to the last return These Treenails cost the United States five shelling P inch P thousand. N^o B 36 inch is £9.0.0 p.th. 24 — is 6.0.0 20 — is 5.0.0 18 — is 4.10—— 16 — is 4 —— I am wi a respect y sincere friends Forman Cheesman M^r Josiah Fox