property put under your charge, and See that it be properly protected from thefts by enclosures or otherwise — I Shall at Some future opportunity give you Such further directions as the Nature of the Service may require — [Messrs James Crawford & Mr Donaldson] War Department 28^th April 98 Gentⁿ Should your convenience admit, you are requested to examine the Ship Ganges and report her age, the exact State of her Hull Masts & yards, Riggery, Sails and every other particulars by which a Judgment can be formed of her value; also the Number of Guns she can carry and your opinion as to her fitness for a vessel of war — you will also State the alterations, repairs and articles which She will require to fit her for Sea. The Time in which She can be So fitted and an Estimate of the Expense — I am Gentⁿ &c — [Messrs T.I. Smalls Baltimore] War Department April 7^th 1798 Gentⁿ Mr. Garretson late chief of the Navy yard at Baltimore having been appointed by the President of the United States purser of the Frigate Constellation, and as the preservation of the materials and Stores deposited there is of great consequence to the United States, I have therefore to request that you will be pleased to employ a person of good Character, fitted to be entrusted with the public property in the Navy yard, to take charge of the Same at the rate of Four hundred dollars per Annum for compensation — As Soon as I am informed of a Suitable character being employed I Shall direct Mr Garretson to deliver the Materials to be — to him, and Shall transmit him Such further orders respecting their preservation as may be deemed Necessary — [Messrs Nicklin & Griffith] War Department 4^th May 1798 Gentⁿ The Hamburg Packet having been purchased for account of the United States and Instructions given that the Naval Constructor cause Such alterations and improvements to be promptly made as may be necessary to prepare the Ship for Sea in as effective a manner as possible for the purposes of her destination. You are requested to accept the agency of paying the Workmen employed in her and procuring Such additional Stores and other articles as being indispensible and proper, may be directed In all these cases you will procure and preserve such Vouchers, as may be produced to the Accounting Officers —