M^r Jas Fox naval Constructor. Perth Apr^l 16^th 1797 Sir " I recied your favour of the [undecipherable] in which you mention the Mast &^c and give leave to add 4 Inches to the foremost; have addd 16 — considering she is so very sharp forward, I beleive a very heavy fore mast would not be so well. — I do not like the masting altogether the lower yards are very square; but this will suit the Algerines — other things perhaps they will disapprove — you have loaded her with Beams knees of Iron, oak Stanchions in the lower deck it looks amazingly solid & heavy for a small Friggots — I have convaed with Captain Tumis [one of the late Captives] a very intelligent man about many of their Customs; their notions, and managments of Ships &c he says they will dislike her for strength and oversize of Timber Beams &^c — I thought the Scantling was small when on paper — it appears full large now — Tumis says they have the quarters intirely open Tween decks clear very few births no bothouse — Smale bread coorn cerry no provisions; only bred oile olives and water for 40 days being their longest Cruise — I have Bought and have partly planed, all the Boards & plank for the births magazine &^c Tumess says the quarters must be laid and open; I think a quarter Cloth would be best; then they might do as they pleased afterwards; he recomends a small Cabin — I expect directions from the war Office on those heads which shall strictly follow in every respect. — I am Ordered by M^r Francis to procure 1000 square boom oars, all from 26 to 36 Tumess says all the oars they use are Round boom and seldom exceid 26 feet however those of 30 & 36 cannot be had in this country; shall get 400 of 26 feet and upwards — what I wish to know of you, is, if it was understood that Hackett was to find spare yards & topmasts, to make the tops; those two things he refuses to do, except he is paid for them Extra; Tops have always been considered here Blockmakers work, spare yards &^c is over and above a sett of Masts & yards — and is Extra — also the iron ports he expects will be allowed for, as they are not in the Contract — if the Ship is detained on the Stocks to be Copperd will be an injury to him on act of Launching, according according to contract he does not wish the time to be allowed for his convenience; but coppering will naturally delay the Launching On the buisness of Coppering, I expect particular Instructions from the Board of War — all these matters you are mention to the Secretary — I shall depend on, how, when, and what mode, she is to be coppered; and every thing thereunto connected [underline: in very particular] many other questions, which I have forwarded to the Secretary; you will doubtless be consulted in answering. the Space aft is so very Small shall be puzzled about the magazine the Stantions fill all up abaft the Mizen — lower deck found & Lined & bolted laying oak Stanchings & water ways in abundance — shut in last Frieday — laying out the, Port-hewing out, Beams, plank, waterways Stanchions &^c for Gun & Quarter deck — puting up counter & shot top Timbers this day & weeks have engaged Caulkers — where is the Rigging & Canvas; M^r Francis says they are among very Backward in those matters Indeed — Hackett will get a head of us; will you inform me what time it took to lay 1400 Sheets Copper on the Friget U.S. and what the probable cost of labor for a guide in our Small thing — two Ships only have been Copperd here; so so that we are not much acquainted with this kind of buisness — day: how far under — how defend the Iron from the Copper — what sort & power of Iron Thicks — what distance the nail holes from each laps of the edges, over each other what nails in the middle of the sheets — how fare to sheath on the Keel, downward; if false Keel be Copperd I am particular in all those things as the Coppering will fal on me, not being in Hacketts Contract; Nor was it then perhaps in contemplation — Heaving out Chips, clearing Limbers Sting the pumps & Bowspret, and wetting, were always inserted in our Contracts, as things the builder was to do at his expense nothing of this is mentioned in Hacketts Contract is at whose expence this is to be preformed — has was it understood —? the weather is very much against us last Saturday a Snow Storm — Now another which has continued 30 Hours, and heavy thick Snow — a week this will be a bad season work on the Ship and very unproping — nice for Hackett — your Hbl Sir Tho^s Thompson