[Capt Tho^o Truxtun] War Office 16^th March, 179[—] Sir, I have it in Command from the Presid[ent] of the United States, to direct you to repair with all [due] Speed on board the Ship Constellation lying a[t] Baltimore. It is required that no Time be lost in [—] [strikethrough: carrying the Ship into deep Water, taking on board the] [strikethrough: Cannon, Ammunition, Water Provisions & Stores of ever] Cannon, Ammunition, Water Provisions & Stores of every kind, completing what Work is yet to be done, shipping his Complement of Seamen & Marines, and preparing her in every Respect for Sea. The Lieutenant of Marines will immediately proceed to enlist the Marines, agreeably to the Act for providing a Naval Armament passed the first of July 1797. You will be pleased to Transmit to him the annexed Regulations for that Purpose. You will herewith receive Commiss[ions] and Warrants for the following Officers. Viz. John Rogers of Maryland Second Lieutenant —— William Cropes of Virginia Third Ditto Shoup Edwards of Maryland Lieutenant of Marines George Dulfour of Virginia Surgeon Isaac Henry of Pennsylvania Surgeon's Mate Edward Hansford of Virginia Sailing Master Isaac Garrelson of Maryland Purser Thielman Charles Wederstrandt Maryland Midship[man] Peter Brown Junior Rhode Island Ditto Henry Van Dyke Delaware D[itt]o John Dent Maryland D[o] John Marshall Clayott D^o D[o] You will be pleased to signify to the Warrant Officers that their being appointed at this Time, is not to affect the Question of relative Rank as it respects Midshipmen for the other Vessels not yet appointed. You will cause such of the [—] as may appear best calculated for the Business, to open Houses of Rendezvous in proper Places, & to exert themselves to engage one hundred & thirty able Sea[men] the following Terms of Service and Rules of [—] Seamen to engage for twelve Months unl[ess sooner dis] charged. The pay of the able Seamen to [—] Dollars per Month and Three Dollars Bounty. The ordinary Seamen, Ten Dollars per Month and two Dollars, Bounty. You will instruct the Officers at each Rendezvous to engage none other than healthy robust and well organised Men, and to reject those who may be scorbutic or consumptively affected. You will direct the Surgeon, or a Mate to attend at those Places to examine each Sailor and Marine, and to certify to the recruiting Officer, that they are well organised, healthy, robust, and free from scorbutic and consumptive Affections, before he engages them or pays them any Bounty. If Bounty or Wages is paid to any without such a Certificate, it will be at the risk of the Officer paying it. The Officer of each Rendezvous shall make out on every Saturday, a Return of the Number of Seamen recruited within the Week, stating therein the Number delivered over to the Ship, and transmit the same to the Captain, and a Duplicate to the Secretary for the Depart- ment of War. — You will also transmit to the Secretary for the Department of War, a weekly return, exhibiting the Number of Marines, able and ordinary Seamen on board the Ship, and the Ac- cidents that have taken place respecting them or any of them, as also the Progress that has been made for preparing her for Sea. — The commanding Officer at each Rendezvous, on the desertion of a Seaman, beside the usual Exertions and Means to be employed on such Occasions to recover and apprehend him, will transmit as soon as possible, a Descri[ption] of him to the Secretary of War. — Having selected proper C[andida]tes for the remaining Midshipman, Gunner, Ca[r]- penter and Sailmaker, you will return their N[ames] that they may be laid before the President. — With respect to the Pay of Marines and Seamen. The Purser, till ordered otherwise, will act as Paymaster to the Officers and Crew, and will receive from Time to time, Money for that purpose. — Marines are to be advanced Two Dollars out of their first Month's Pay. The Advance to Seamen, if they can not be obtained without it, may be one Month's Pay, besides the Bounty. As soon as you give Notice of the Places of Rendezvous and the Arrival of the Officers who will have Charge of them, a sufficient Sum will be remitted to each, to commence the re- cruiting Service. The Officers receiving this Money will be held accountable for its faithful Application & must produce at the Accountant's Office, proper [Vouchers] for its Expenditure. — The Names of the Marines and Seamen, are to be entered alphabetically, in the Muster and Pay Rolls, and the Men to be mustered while in Port by a qualified Person, whose Certi[ficate] as well as yours is to be attached to the Muster [Roll]. It is the President's express [Order] that you employ the most vigorous Exertions to accomplish these several Objects and to put the Ship as speedily as possible in a situation [use]- ful at the shortest Notice. — [I shall] make a Req[uisition] on the Secretary of the Treasury, for provisions for the Crew while in [Port —] Provisions destined for the voyage or Cruize Monthly Pay of the Petty Officers, Seamen, ordinary Seamen and Marines. — Frigate Constellation.                                                                             D^rs 8 Midshipmen at 19 D^rs each                       152 2 Master's Mates at 20 D^rs each                  40 1 Captain's Clerk at 25 D^o                         25 2 Boatswain's Mates 18 D^o                        36 1 Cockswain            17 D^o                        17 2 Gunner's Mates    18 D^o                        36 1 Yeoman of the Gunroom 18 D^o                 18 9 Quarter Gunners    17 D^o                      153 2 Carpenter's Mates  18 D^o                       36 1 Armourer             18 D^o                       18 1 Steward               18 D^o                       18 1 Cooper                18 D^o                       18 1 Master at Arms     18 D^o                       18 1 Sail Maker's Mate  17 D^o                       17 4 Quarter Masters    17 D^o                       68 1 Cook                  18 D^o                       18 126 Seamen &     Midshipmen @ 15 D^o                      1890. 90 Ordinary Seamen 10 D^o                     900. 2 Serjeants              9 D^o                        18 2 Corporals              8 D^o                        16 1 Drum                   7 D^o                          7 1 Fife                     7 D^o                          7 40 Privates              6 D^o                       240                                             Dollars 3666 p[er] Mon[th] [altered figures — See Page 10] War Office, 17^th March, 1798. —