[256] Such reports from the Officers engaged in Building th Ship affords room to believe that you have not been so assiduous in your exertions as the nature of the Service you are engaged in Required. I have therefore to request that you will use your utmost endeavours to have the Frigate finished and Launched with all possible expedition that no further delays may be imputable to you. It may also be proper to remind you that in carrying these orders into execution you are not to run into any unnecessary expense, but on the Contrary to be as frugal as possible in every part of the work. You are likewise requested to Copper all the Bottom on the Stocks before the Ship is Launched to prevent her sinking down afterwards and a Consequent heavy exp— W O^r July 15 1797 [M^r David Stodder —] Receiv'd your letter of the 13 instant. The plan that you propose of partially Coppering the Bottom of the Constellation I cannot approve; you will therefore be pleased to conform to the Instructions communicated to you in my letter of the 11 instant. You state that you launches her in such a manner that listing across her Keel cannot be cap— I have to remark on the above, that the Keel cannot surely be laid so very low as to endanger the Vessel in passing over the lower Blocks: but if such danger is likely, in your opinion, to happen on Launching, you will be pleased to State it by return of post together with the distance between the Keel and such Blocking, as it is my desire that every precaution may be taken by you in due time to ensure the safe Launching of the Ship into the Water; you are therefore not to neglect any measure that will conduce to that desirable end —