Sir Near Downingstown 16 Oct. 1797 [Capt. Thompson / Portsmouth] My nephew Mr John M. Henry wrote to you by my order during my indisposition, under date of the 11 of Sept. ulto a copy of which is annexed I flatter myself this letter has been duly received and has had the affect intended. Sir Near Downingstown 16 Oct. 1797 [Josh Francis] I enclose you an extract of a letter from Capt Nicholson dated the 9 instant. I beg you to inform me whether the Complement of Anchors for his Ship is ready. If so you will be pleased to take immediate measures to have them sent to Boston. If not, I beg you to lose no time in urging the Contractor to finish them so to forward them when finished. I wrote you on the 8 instant. Have you received that letter and what progress has been made in complying with its requisition. Gentlemen War Office 6 Decem. 1797 [Josh J. Harris / our Agents / Baltimore / to a circular / with the 9 / notice to you / from the Boston] It being judged advisable that a further Estimate for the Naval Service should be in readiness to lay before Congress early in the Session to meet any deficiencies that may happen, by reason of the last appropriation falling short of its object in several instances: and as it is presumed an estimate cannot in the present state of the Naval business be correctly ascertained without a reference to those persons more immediately concerned— It may therefore be proper to request you will be pleased to state as near as possible what Articles remain to be purchased and their probable cost; together with what further labour will be necessary to complete the Constitution for sea: It may also be proper to state what Bills remain unpaid and their amount. It may be necessary at same time to inform you, that as Congress having established the Pay and subsistence for the Officers and Crew, no notice may be taken of them in the said statement. The Military Stores can be estimated here. I hope Gentlemen that you will be as particular in your communication, as the Nature of the Service will admit that a sufficiency of Money may be called for to meet all claims on the said Ship. The Secretary of War not having returned to the Office since his removal to Philad. it therefore falls on me to request the foregoing information. I am Gentlemen with Sentiments of the greatest respect Josiah Fox / Navy Constructor Sir War Office Novem^b 8^th 1797 — [Mr. Freeman / Chairman] Your letter of yesterday's date was received this morning. I called at the Treasurers and Comptrs Office for information relative to the Mode of payment, and received from the Chief Clerks intimation that the said may in future be paid by the Naval Agent as heretofore. It will therefore be requisite to call on Mr. Blagge and State the foregoing to him and if he should object to the payment of the rent you then may write to Tench Francis Purveyor of Supply in whose department the payments of the rents of Navy [undecipherable] are considered. I am &c