[Mess^rs Nichlen and Griffeth] War Department 30^th May 1798 Gentⁿ I request that you will be pleased to provide for the Ship of War Delaware, Six pieces of Peddle Station Hand of arms with Bayonets for the marines and Sixteen Cutlasses — I am Gentⁿ &c. [Ass^t Sect^y w^r of the Governor for Massachusetts] War Department 30^th May 1798 Sir It is extremely desireable, that all the Naval forces the nended States can command, should be put into a State of Activity as Speedily as possible — Athwart and particularly by the failure of a Contract, the Government has found it impracticable to procure the Cannon requisite for the Battery for the Frigate Constellation at Boston — It has however lately been found that there are at Castle Island, in the Harbour of Boston, nineteen cannon of Caliber to carry eighteen pound shot which from their Length and Weight appears to have been designed for Ship service and to be improved for the appurtenances of Fortifications — That Captain Nicholson has seen and examined these Cannon and is very desirous to obtain them for his Ship. By the direction of the President, I have therefore to request of your Excellency a loan of four (or Sixteen of the Cannon mentioned, and to offer on the part of the United States, an engagement, either to return the Same Guns as Soon as they can be provided for the Frigate, or to replace them with Guns