Pittsburg 15 Decem^r 1797 Sir I have the honor of yours of the 1^st Instant, which should have been sooner answered but [undecipherable] to afford you all the information I could obtain There are a number of qualified workmen to be had in this country, but it will be necessary you should send a superintendent to direct the construction of the Gallies. The workmen for the shipping & Carpenter part of the business, can be had at from [undecipherable] to fifty five dollars per month The The plan [undecipherable] to build the Gallies, is at Pittsburg. I [have] obtained a list of such scantling as I have [contracted] for, and the prices — The timbers are not yet engaged on contract, and probably [undecipherable] as there are no persons in this Country who [undecipherable] that kind of business — The mode which I am pursuing is, to hire men by the day, to get out the timbers, I have the [undecipherable: frame?] moulds made, and the workmen will commence in a day or two — I beg leave to suggest to you whether it would not be better to make the Gallies longer than proposed by the plan sent me — Our rivers are so extremely [undecipherable], as to admit of sails being but seldom used, and they are so rapid, that it will require a great many oars to propel the Galley against the stream. According to the plan transmitted to me, the Galley is to be Forty [undecipherable] feet in length, the place for the Gun, [undecipherable] to with take of Twenty five feet which [undecipherable] feet for the Oarsmen — The question then is, whether this space will be sufficient for oars enough to [undecipherable] the Gallies, against a current running from [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] miles an hour. I am not sufficient a judge to determine the question, but [undecipherable: submit?] it to your judgement and instructions, with the increasing the size from forty feet to seventy [undecipherable] feet with be an improvement when applied to their use on our rivers. — I think there is little doubt of the Gallies being in readiness to [undecipherable: pass?] down the river about the middle of [undecipherable] towards the latter end of March [undecipherable]. Encloseed is a list of articles which will be required to be sent from Philadelphia for the constructing and completing the Gallies — Please Please to order forward the person you may employ to superintend the construction of the Gallies, as early as possible. I am Sir [undecipherable] Respect The Hon^ble Your obt Serv^t Hum Serv^t [signature] James McHenry Sec^y at War [Enclosure] [undecipherable: Necessary?] articles [undecipherable] in constructing & completing Gallies, that cannot be conveniently [undecipherable] at Pittsburg for [undecipherable] Anchors & Cables [undecipherable] & block[s] [undecipherable] rigging, [undecipherable] [undecipherable], lead line [undecipherable] Nails [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] Oakum Turpentine & Rosin Paints of Sorts [undecipherable] in Oil [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Glazing & Spy Glasses [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Colors [undecipherable] Ensign, Jacks & Pendants [undecipherable] Pump[s] & [undecipherable] Nails Pittsburgh [undecipherable] [Enclosure] Prices of Scantling contracted for [undecipherable] at Pittsburg / Such to be [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] Cents per [undecipherable] 2 Inch d^o. a [undecipherable] Cents 3 Inch d^o. a 3 Cents 3½ Inch d^o — 3½ Cents 4 Inch d^o — 4 Cents — Pittsburgh 16 Decem^r 1797 —