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Philadelphia Feby 15th 1798

Sir

Agreeably to your request I have paid the strictest attention to the content of Mr. Joshua Humphreys letter to you of the 13th inst. and after mature deliberation cannot coincide with his opinion of putting the cedar toptimbers into the ships in two places instead of one entire piece. I have always considered the timbers composing the frames of both classes of frigates already too small (that is) they are sided 2 inches less than what was absolutely requisite according to my opinion for ships of such magnitude and capacity. It has been generally supposed that the principal strength of a Vessel when at sea depends on her carrying a press of (torn off) & also that during a calm, or heavy sea running she rolls without straining, which cannot be the case if her timbers are narrow, for on the breadth of the surfaces of her timbers will lye a great part of her strength, as the larger her timbers are sided the greater will be the distance between the fenner and other fastening of her body on which lies the principal strain.