[undecipherable] [James McHenry Esqr. Secretary at War — Philadelphia —] Boston February [undecipherable] 1798 I have received [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] last month requesting me to [undecipherable] in a [undecipherable] manner the [undecipherable] causes which have [delay'd?] the completion of the frigate since when [undecipherable] which this are reported to have now [undecipherable] I have not at [undecipherable] any former time [undecipherable] and to say at which it was [undecipherable] but the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] most [undecipherable] [undecipherable] have been [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of the frigate, [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] at the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] made all the time [undecipherable] [undecipherable]; but this [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] as never [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] as it would have [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] more [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] that the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I am not [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] however [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] may be [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [received?] from [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [drove?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and that the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [placed?] in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] / the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Some [difficulties?] [undecipherable] on [undecipherable] [undecipherable] which were [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on a former occasion to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] being [undecipherable] into the water, until the 21^st of October last but the finishing of the Frigate was rather facilitated, than retarded by that event The inclement season of the year, has hitherto forestalled the regging of the M[asts?]; which circumstance has occasioned all purposes necessary to be [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to keep pace with the regging, [for?] its her cordage, anchors, Sails &c. that render [undecipherable] thoroughly [fitted?], [undecipherable] have been long ready, to be put into instant use I am very Respectfully your Hum^ble Servant George Claghorn [The Hon.^ble James McHenry Secretary at War]