Sir

Your Favour requesting us to procure You an Iron Hearth or Cabose for the Ship of War under Your Care² also requesting us to inform You whether You could be supplied with.12 lb Shot and what Price we gave the Riggers for Rigging the Warren & Providence we received and it has not been in our Power to reply thereto until now by Reason of Mr Mumford (who is the only Person who undertakes Iron Caboses) being at Warwick and his Workmen at Warren & the great Difficultyin obtaining Bar Iron & Iron Plates; the latter must be plated at Pawtucket ー Mr Mumford has agreed to make this Cabose at the same Rate he has ever done only being allowed the Difference in the extraordinary Rise of the Material which was the Way the Naval Committee agreed with him for the two for the Warren & Providence: The Warren's was done first & weigh'd 10½ Cwt for which we paid him 12d per Pound; that for the Providence was done next and weighed 19 Cwt and odd for which we paid him 13½d per lb. The Reason of the latter's weighing so much more than the former was because she had Iron Pots & the Warren a Copper Cook Kettle; but before Mr Mumford can begin upon Your Cabose You must send Answers to the following Questions Do You propose having a Copper Boiler or Iron Pots? If a Copper then the Blacksmith must have the exact Dimensions of its Length, Breadth & Depth from outside to outside; if Iron Pots it will then be best that they be sent to the Smith at Warren if it can be done as the Cabose may be more certainly made to fit them without Loss of Weight; But if they cannot be sent conveniently, the Diameter over the biggest Part of the Pots & also the Height of them as they stand on a Floor: If the Cabose is to stand under the Forecastle it will then be necessary to know the Height from the Deck to the Carlines of the Forecastle that Room may be left for cleaning the Pots &c.

As soon as Your Answer to the foregoing is received we will immediately forward it to Mr Mumford who has promised that no Time shall be lost: But You must expect the Price will be much more than our last cost us owing to the very great Scarcity and Demand for Iron. Any Quantity would sell for Forty eight Pounds per Ton: It is with great Difficulty any can be gotー

The Price we gave our Riggers for working on the Continental Ships was from 5/ to 6/ pr Day; but all Labour of every Kind has greatly advanced here since and we think You had better agree with Your Riggers on the best Terms You can. In Regard to the 12 lb Shot we have advised with our Naval Committee & they think they shall be able to supply You with what You may want ー You mention having sent Part of the Spars by Capt      who is arrived & has lost in the Sound two of the largest of them, he says his Cable broke; we know not how it was but think he was not so careful as he ought to have been or that his Cable was rotten & good for Nothing. This is a very unlucky Affair; we hope better Luck will attend those You have to forward ー We are [&c.]

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