Sir War Office 24 January 179⁸ Be pleased to inform the Secretary of War of the Five Tons of Copper had from the Mint for the Frigate Constitution has been paid for out of the Monies appropriated for the Naval department; also of what monies have been paid for Anchors for the Frigates furnished by the Contractors in the State of New York — The Secretary of the Treasury says that there are due to other departments about 20 thousand dollars for Articles &c. drawn from those departments for the Naval Service. Will you be so kind as to furnish the Secretary of War with a list of such Articles and their exact amounts — that they may be included in the Naval estimate — and am Sir respectfully your Ob^t Ser^t [undecipherable: probable reading Josiah] [undecipherable] [margin notes, partially illegible: the anchors for the frigates furnished — Contracted of New York on board the [undecipherable] — The Copper purchased from the Mint for the use of the Frigates, was not bought by me. I therefore [undecipherable] direct M^r. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] must have done this [undecipherable]] the Copper was paid for by M^r. Francis M^r. Govett thinks there is not more than 4000 dollars due on their Books at the end of 1797 — 6 Anchors 4939. 12 $ Tench Francis Esq^r. Purveyor [docket: War Office 24 Jan.^y 1798 / To Tench Francis]