Tenthly. That to ascertain the strength of the trunnions, the cannon shall be placed on two pieces of wood, having indentions large enough to receive two thirds of the trunnions, and with the hinder part at a sufficient distance from where the trunnions lodge, so that the breech of the cannon may be inclined in any direction; but never so as to rest on the ground. The proof by powder, to be made on the flat pieces of wood. Eleventhly. That the cannon which shall have stood the proof by powder, shall be raised from off the temporary carriage and placed upon a [undecipherable] and filled with water; and should the water, on being compressed, filter through any part of the cannon, the same shall not be received by the United States, although they have stood proof by powder. Twelfthly. That the cannon which shall have stood the aforesaid examination and proofs, shall be subject nevertheless to be re-examined; and if the holes are dented, or the ones tolerated, found to have been enlarged by the firing, all such cannon shall undergo a second proof with one hundred pounds with two-thirds powder and two balls, as before specified; when if the holes exhibit no further enlargement, all such cannon shall be admitted and received for, after being weighed. Thirteenthly. That the weight of each cannon received, shall be marked on the left trunnion. Fourteenthly. That the said cannon, after being approved and received for, shall be delivered by the said Samuel Hughes, at his own proper cost and expence, at a wharf on the bank of some river, creek, or water of the Chesepeak, where a decked vessel of sixty tons burthen, can load and unload. Fifteenthly. That the United States reserve to at the expence of proving the said cannon, and shall, when required, send a person to prove such of them as are ready, provided the number is not less than twelve; but the full proof may be made on any lesser number. Sixteenthly. That as soon as all of the number of the said cannon are finished and receipted for, payment shall be made therefor, at the price heretofore mentioned, less any, however, in the said payment, any advances which may have been made to the said Samuel Hughes, on account of this contract. Seventeenthly. That the said Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury, or cause to be paid, to the said Samuel Hughes, on behalf of the Cecil Company, the price of one hundred and thirty-three dollars and one fourth of a dollar, for every ton of iron that the said cannon shall weigh, after being proved and receipted for. In witness whereof, the said Secretary of the Treasury, on behalf of the United States, hath hereunto subscribed his hand, and the said Samuel Hughes trading as aforesaid, and the said Samuel Hughes, on behalf of the Cecil Company, hath hereunto set his hand and seal, the day and year above written. [L. S. T. U. S.] (A. b.) Navy Yard, Boston, 24^th September, 1797. Sir, HAVING before stated to you my intention of launching the frigate Constitution, on the 20^th instant, the necessary preparations were made to that end; and at the time appointed, all the blocks and shores were removed, with the exception of two or three pretty infirm ones. She, however, did not start until screws and other machinery had been applied; and then she moved only about two feet. Suspecting that some hidden cause had impeded her progress, and the tide ebbing fast, I decided to let her rest grounded on the blocks the next am, and investigate the cause of her stopping. I found that the part of the ways which had not before received any of the weight, had settled about six inches; which, added to some other cause of no great importance in itself, had occasioned the obstruction. The next day, after due preparation, the ship was raised two inches in fifty minutes, by means of wedges; her bilgeways were then taken out, and the apparent defects removed. All things being in order, a second attempt was made on the 22^d instant; and upon the removal of her supports, she moved freely for about 31 feet, and then stopt. On this unexpected event, as she was somewhat advanced on the new wharf which was built for her to pass over only, and not to rest upon, I judged it adviseable to suspend any further operations, although it might have been possible, with the machinery previously prepared, to have pressed her into the water—But if she had been constrained 20 or 30 feet further, and then have stopped, her situation would have been critical, on a foundation by no means solid. Accordingly she was perfectly secured in her new situation. On examining the ways erected on the new wharf, I find they have both settled abaft, about ¼th of an inch; which circumstance, as it could not have been foreseen, the descent of the ways was not calculated to overcome, and which solely occasioned her to stop. I had formed the inclined plane upon the smallest angle that I conceived would convey the ship into the water, in order that she might make her plunge with the least violence, and thereby prevent any strain or injury. I must now give the ways more descent, which will remedy the defect occasioned by the settling of the new wharf; and I am fully confident, that the next trial at the high tides in October, will be attended with success—In the mean time, I shall proceed in completing the ship on the stocks. Your favor of the 10^th, came to hand on the 17^th instant. I am, *very respectfully,* *Your humble servant,* GEORGE CLAGHORNE. *Hon.* James M^cHenry, } *Secretary of War.* }