War Office 4 Decem^r. 1797 Sir I have received your letter of the 3 inst. It shall Send down Capt Barry and M^r Draccos to prove such of the different Cannon as are in a Situation to undergo that experiment and that may be adjudged by them to be fit for service agreeably to the Contracts. The time of their coming down will depend on Capt Barry who is at present very much engaged with the Frigates. I hope nothing will interrupt the completion of the 32 pounders which are much wanted. I am &c [Mess. M. J. Harrits] Gentlemen War Office 4 December 1797 The Chairman of the Committee of the House of Representatives on the Subject of the protection of Commerce have requested the Secretary of War to inform the Committee what further provisions appears to be necessary to compleat and ston the Three Frigates for Sea — It must therefore be proper to request that you will be pleased to furnish the Estimate and other information called for in my letter of the 1st Inst as soon as convenient — I am &c M^r Govill Jonah Fox will be much obliged to M^r Govill to inform him what part of the Sum of 60,000 allotted [undecipherable] to the Charges by the Treasury since the 8^th [undecipherable] last have been expended on each of the Frigates United States, Constitution & Constellation and about how [undecipherable] in the arsenal and of the said Frigates 11. D. S Dec 1797