[Copy] Balt^o 20^th April 1797 Sir Rec^d yours of the 17^th Inst. and am sorry to find you are dissatisfied that the Frigate at this place is no farther advanced, the reason is obvious, in the first place we were disappointed in materials last summer & it was the last of October before we got all our flooring [strikethrough: ing] Timbers we were oblige to make fourteen & Six Counter Timbers there being but two sent to this Yard, not a single Breast Hook did we receive, I have to make them out of such Timber as I can't get, add to this the loss of last summers work & the severe winter I hope will account for the backward-ness of this Ship — From my first undertaking this important trust I laid aside all private concerns that there might be no object to take off my attention, & oeconomy I have allways kept in View, — Had I been Authorised to provide the Timber for this Ship she might have been Launched Nine Months ago & the Timber procured at Least one hund^d P^Ct cheaper & the Labour nearly 80 P^Ct less, as I was & have plan'd the work so as to have it principally done in the long days — In consequence of our not being regularly Supplied our pay Rolls have amou- ted to double the sum in the short days that they were in the longest days or the best Season to work — Coppy signed [signature] Your ob^t D. Stodder [Hon^ble James McHenry Sec^y of War]