Philadelphia April 26^th 1784 By M^r Smith I am favoured with yours of the 16^th ins^t. — The Powder in the Magazine, must be immediately overhauld — for this purpose you will apply to the Officer of the Guard for the Assistance of the Men stationed at the Post, who for their Services shall receive one Shilling p^r day additional pay, as is usual in such cases — you will make use of the new Casks purchased of Mess^rs Smith & Co. by General Lincoln, for shifting such as is in the worst condition, and inform me how many more will be necessary, which shall be provided — The new Muskets must be Oiled, the Men mention'd above will be equal to that Service — If the articles directed to be sold will command either Money, or Stock of Labour, the Buildings, where the Arms are deposited, should be clapboarded, without loss of time. It is essentially necessary for their preservation — I have enumerated the Articles from your Return that you are to sell, some I hope will command their intrinsick values, others I am certain will not; yet as money is wanting for the preservation of the Stores intended to be kept, and can only at present be obtained in this way, you must do the best you can with them — From the Money arising from the Sale you will make the collection of the fines in Connecticut, and you are at liberty to stipulate with any suitable Person for paying his reasonable Expences while thus employed — You will make me monthly Returns, both of the Stores on hand, and any that may be sold, and the expenditure of the Money received, as you have a fund to maintain, I can have no objection to your appropriating a reasonable part of any Money you receive to your own use on Account of Pay — The Gun Barrels at any rate at a proper value you may take on Account —— NB The firs must not be Sold without it will bring its value [signature] Captⁿ John Breant Invoice of Stores at Springfield to be disposed of by Captain John Breant Viz^t 920 pounds Sheet Lead —— 12 pounds Emery Stone —— 24 Wall pieces —— 574 d^o Buck Shot —— 28. d^o Black Tin —— 40 Musket Stocks —— 757 Powder Horns —— 100. d^o Rozin —— 163 old Musket Locks —— 77 pounds, Nails of sorts —— 109 Sheets Tin —— 802 Bushels Coals —— 342 d^o Cotton Wool —— 25 Boxes d^o —— 3 Old Sleds —— 1004 d^o Bar Iron —— 25 Barrels d^o —— 672 lbs Brass borings —— 241. d^o Steel —— 6411 Musket & Carbine Barrels —— 1320 damaged Musketts 126. d^o Sheet Iron —— 245 Pistol d^o ——