N^o 1 Baltimore, 8 Decem^r 1797 Col^o Your two letters of the 6^th 11^th & [undecipherable] came duly to hand — We were in hopes that the several Tradesmen employed for the Frigate Constitution would have Completed their Respective Undertakings before this time, Would have enabled us to comply with your request, but they have disappointed us Very much — In a few days we expect to have done with all of them, when we shall not delay to forward the Estimate with of for Cap^t Nicholson intends going to Phil^a on Monday next I Will be able in the mean time to give a just opinion of what further Sum will be necessary to Compleat the Constitution — We are with much Respect For Your hum^ble S^ts [undecipherable] & [undecipherable]