[at the war office] [44] [M^r Jos^a Fox Naval Constructor Philadelphia] [seal] [Portsm^o July 1^st 1797 Captⁿ Thompson] M^r Fox Portsm^o 1^st July 1797— naval Constructor Your favour of y^e 21^st Ins^t covering your state ment of Blocks to which I shall shortly conform with I do not like the mode for Jears - double blocks is what I should prefer for practice— the blocks was in hand - sizes all agree— especially dead Eyes. which I wish to have first done— the yards are in hand. The length of the topsail yard arms seems very much out of proportion for beauty and perhaps need be with respect to Reefs— the lower yard arms are short— heads of masts are also short— the difference between fore mast & main mast very great— fore mast will appear like a Jurey mast— you have my proportions en closed but shall abide by those from the war office— except you reconsider them on any particular— don't oil or varnish the [undecipherable: pavements?] yards or blocks, either— I wish you had secured the long boat— have agreed for 27 feet— without further directions I shall lengthen the masts heads, preserving the same lengths in topmast as your dimensions you will have time if you wish to make any alterations— in the Mast— tis for the interest of the thing that some lusty person should be employ'd to receive all the Iron— Gabriel [undecipherable: Haletier?]— rece^d it all— hitherto as he is in pay on the other Frigate he can perform this duty also— which he continues to do— but M^r Sheaf. has shewn a disposition to counteract him— and has also denied the use of the Smiths shop of— now you know the intention was to accommodate with the Building of in the old Public yard— but they seem tired of [undecipherable] you know Gabriels small duty is to pass over M^r Linney only— you know the connections those things have with the Algerine Frigate tis not worth my while hackling the heart with those trifeling matters— you must see them set to rights— yours &c &c in haste Tho^s Thompson