Dear Sir Philadelphia April 7^th 1797 Having been absent on public business a great part of last year to the Eastern parts of the Union and not communing with the Winter Season had only, has been the cause of my not writing to you before. The object of my mission to the Eastward was to contract with the Navy Yards [undecipherable] Contracts for a Frigate to be built for the [undecipherable], the Eastern of which I accomplished at Portsmouth in New Hampshire. Inasmuch as it is highly probable the United States many [undecipherable] a call for more Ships of War to be built by contract, should a War with France take place, at the [undecipherable] of those Nations continues these depredations on the Commerce of this Country. I should feel anxious to offer my [undecipherable] to Government to furnish Ships of War, suitable for the Service, and as Norfolk forms its Advantages at the Company of having convenient [undecipherable] appears to me to be very convenient, as well as a suitable place in every other respect for a [undecipherable] of those [undecipherable] induces me to thank you for your opinion as to the eligibility of such a [undecipherable] and also to know the price of materials, and labour in the port of Norfolk. For your information I have made some Estimates of the price of Materials at Portsmouth (N.H.) as well as the price of Labour and I believe every part of the materials can be had at Norfolk as easy or easier Terms than at Portsmouth (N.H.) The Ships which government may build in future, I expect will be conformable in their Dimensions to Ships of the same Class in the British Navy, and not such large enormous unwieldy Ships as they intended to have. Building [undecipherable] will enable this advancement of Timber and other Materials necessary and the price of such small materials will be so far proportionate to the [undecipherable] with which they may be procured, I have no doubt but that Capt. [Broeck?] would readily furnish any information relative to the price of White Oak and Yellow [undecipherable] accommodation on the foregoing you will greatly favour me as I believe it is the intention of the Officers of Government to get two or 3 Frigates built [undecipherable] of Congress will make the necessary appropriations. I remain with respect Your Obt: Serv^t: Josiah Fox [M^r Pennock Esq^r Inspector] The following are the prices of Contract for building a Frigate of 333 Tons to mount 36 Guns, at Portsmouth (N.H.) The Hull to be completed and launched in 10 months viz. a complete Set of frames and Plank at $[undecipherable] 40 Doll[ars] The Canvas, Joining & [undecipherable] the work, together with the [undecipherable] not included in the above and the materials made at the [undecipherable] of Government— [undecipherable] of Labour and materials at Portsmouth [undecipherable]