[264] [for] W O: Sept^o 10. 1797 Received your letter of the 8 instant, & yesterday, informing me of the present State of the Frigate Constitution and submitting the propriety of launching her during the high Tides of the present month, noticing at the same time that the work which must be done after getting her into the Water could be cheapest performed while on the Stocks — [geo. Clayboone] Upon your opinion it would be unsafe to trust to the tides in October I very readily agree to her being launched in this Month; but if we may venture the delay till October and it would be a saving in point of expence I should prefer it, especially as it does not appear to me that any thing could be gained by a premature launch, to counterballance the expence — [for] Near Downingstown, 11 1797 I have rec^d your letter of the 9 instant, you have done perfectly right to aid D^r Gillespie with medicines and I should not think you would do wrong were you to advise Captain Barry to get his sick taken care of on shore, as more conducive to their recovery. [Inch. Frances Cap^t] I have given orders to M^r Hodgdon should M^r Hughes fail in not delivering the complement of Guns for the Alyssum Frigate to have the deficiency supplied out of the Public Magazines, and forwarded to Portsmouth. You will be so kind as to forward those received from M^r Hughes.