[Page 283] portion of the Constitution's crew will consist of Seamen and others who are resident in, or Sails out of the Eastern States, and as the Manning of that Ship will in a great measure depend on current wages given at Boston, I Shall therefore be much obliged to you to be-informed me as early as possible what those wages are, and what you Suppose the petty officers, Seamen and others contained in the 3 and 4 Sections of the Naval act, can be obtain for — I am &c Sir War Office 20 of Jany 1798 [General Jackson] I have received your letter of the 17 inst enclosing a Statement of Articles purchased in Decembr last and also one other containing a great number of Articles required by Captain Nicholson as Cabbin furniture for his Ship. I beg leave to observe that no other furniture can be allowed by the Public to the Commissioned officers on board of Ships of War, than what is absolutely necessary to their immediate accommodation on Board, and whatever articles they may need for their own ease and convenience must be provided at their own expence. I have therefore to request that you will procure the following only for their accommodation Dinning Tables Windsor Chairs 1 Accommodation Chair 1 Globe Lamps 2 Copper Stoves Should any other arrangements be necessary you will have notice given you of it. I am &c