[295 / Sam.^t & Josep / Sterrets / Balt.^o] War Department 27 Ap.^r 98 Gent.ⁿ I have the honor to transmit herewith an appointment for Cap.^t Thomas Belle to take charge of the Navy Yard &c.^a at Baltimore— In case he accepts this Appointment you will be pleased to deliver the enclosed order to M^r Isaac Garretson to put him in charge of the Navy Yard, and all the articles of public property at present in his keeping, for which he is to give him the requisite receipts— [Cap.^t Tho: Ble / Baltimore S] War Department 27.^th April 1798 Sir Mess.^rs S. & J. Sterrets having represented you as a suitable person to take charge of the Navy Yard, and property therein deposited at Baltimore— I therefore agree to allow you 400 Dollars per Annum, as a full Compensation for performing such service— In case you accept, M^r Isaac Garretson will deliver to you all the public pro- [strikethrough: A that hed [undecipherable] persons with [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you [undecipherable] him [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to] be properly [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] property in that yard, which is in his keeping on your giving him duplicate receipts for the same— It is expected that you will pay the Strictest attention to the 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— [Mess.^rs James / Crawford & / M^r Donaldson] War Department 28.^th April '98 Gent.ⁿ Should your convenience admit, you are requested to examine the Ship Ganges and report her age, the exact State of her Hull, Masts & yards, Rigging, 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 Gent.ⁿ &c— [Mess.^rs S & J Sterrets / Baltimore] War Department April 7^th 1798 Gent.ⁿ M^r Isaac Garretson late clerk 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 pro-