M[r] Josiah Fox Naval Constructor Oct Sept 24^th 1797 Sir, Received your favour of 25^th Ulto, when you mention the masts &c (and give leave to add 18 inches to the foremast. I have added it considering she is a very Sharp forward; I believe a very heavy foremast would not be so able; I do not like masting altogether. The lower yards are very Smaill but [undecipherable] &c. [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] Other things perhaps they will disimprove — you have loaded her with Beams Knees & Iron [undecipherable] &c in the lower deck it risks amazing — [undecipherable] & heavy for a Small Frigate — I have conbersed with [undecipherable: Baalam] [undecipherable: Turnip] [one of the Late [undecipherable]] a very intelligent man about many of their Customs; their notions and managments of their life. he says they will disturbe her for [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] &Seams &c. thought the [undecipherable] was Small when on [leave] it appears full large now — [undecipherable: Turnip] Says they have the quarters entirely clear, tween deck clear very fast, [either] no lobhouse — Small area Room carry no provisions; only bread. oil Rice and [undecipherable] for 40 days being their longest Cruise — I have thought and have partly planed, all the Boards & planks for the births Magazin &c [undecipherable: Turnip] Says the quarters must be [undecipherable]; [undecipherable] Cloth should be best; [undecipherable] they might do as they please. Afterwards, &c [Recomendes] to make [undecipherable] — I expect directions from the [undecipherable] you on these heads, which I shall Strictly follow in every Respect. I am Orderd by M[r] Frances to procure 4000 Square [undecipherable: Loome] [undecipherable: Loars] ash from 26 to 36 — [undecipherable: Turnips] Says all the oars they use are Round Looms and seldom exceed 26 feet however those of 30&36 cannot be had in this Country; Shall get 400 of 26 feet (and upwards) — What I wish to know of your is if it was understood that Hacket was to find Spars Yards & Topmasts to make the tops; these two things refused to do, except his [undecipherable] for them Extra; Tops have all oars [undecipherable] considered here. Block makers work of [undecipherable] yards &c &c is one and above a little from ors & yards and is Extra — also the same tools he expects will be allowed for as they are not in [his] contract. If the Ship is delayed on the Stocks to his [undecipherable] it will be in request to him on [acct] of Launching. According to Contract, he does not wish the time to be extended for his Conveniency; but [undecipherable] will undoubtedly delay the Launching on the Business of [undecipherable] — I expect particular Instructions from the Board of [War] — all these matters you will mention to the Secretary, &c I shall depend on how when how and what [undecipherable] is to be obtained; and every thing there with connected is very [undecipherable]; many other questions, which I [have] formerly to the contrary; you will doubtless be consulted in answering. the [undecipherable] &c is to come — [undecipherable] shall be inquired about the Magazine, the [undecipherable] Limit [undecipherable] &c about the Magazin — Lower deck [undecipherable: Hanks] Knees & [bolted] laying [undecipherable] Ways in abundance; Shut in last [Friday] — laying with the [undecipherable] having cut Beams, [planks], [Waterways], [Knees] &c for [undecipherable] quarters deck putting up [counter] & [undecipherable] this day, 4 [undecipherable] have engaged [undecipherable] — Where is the Rigging [undecipherable] — M[r] Frances says they are coming — very [undecipherable] started in those matters indeed — Hackett will get ahead of us. Will you inform me what time it took to lay 1500 [sheets] of copper on the Frigate [undecipherable] and what the probable cost of labor for a given for our Small thing — Two Ships only have been coppered here. So that we are not much acquainted with [kind] of business, say how pay, under Copper how [undecipherable] the bow from the Copper what kind of [nails] — how thick what distance the nail holes [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] over each [other] what nails in the middle of the [Sheets] how fare to sheath on the Keel downward; if false Keel [be] copperd. I am particular in all those things, as the Coppering will fall on me — not being in Hacketts Contract, nor was it then perhaps in contemplation — Heaving out Chips, Clearing Timbers [undecipherable] the [pumbs] & Bowsprith, (and watering,) were always inserted in new Contracts, as things the Builder was to do at his expence nothing of this is mentioned in Hackits Contract, or at whose expence this is to be performed, how was it understood — The weather is very much against us last Saturday a Snow Storm — now another which has continued 30 hours and leaves 6 inches drawn on a level; this will be a [lost] working day on the Ship (and very un[propitaable]) for[?] Hacket your [undecipherable] Thomas Thompson