West Point 28^th July 179[3] Agreeably to a contract made with M[r] James Harned, I certify that the s[ai]d James Harned has cleared Five Hundred Stand & Arms for the United States at eighteen ninety [undecipherable] for a dollar [undecipherable] each, and is [undecipherable: entitled] to receive thirty seven pounds Ten Shillings for the same, at the War Office, New York Ten days after this certificate is produced, which makes up the number Two thousand Five Hundred which he has cleared— The Hon.[ble] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Dear Sir — Secretary at War [undecipherable signature] West Point 12 May 1784 I believe you misunderstood me in my Letter of 6^th Instant, Respecting the Armourers, as I did not mean to have a Contract, But that the Arm[er]s should be hired during your Pleasure, and then [undecipherable] work for them to do— If [undecipherable] there is about One Thousand French Arms [undecipherable] [undecipherable: defect] seems there is a considerable [undecipherable] them than [undecipherable: Stocked] and the [undecipherable: old] Stocks will be wanting to tip [undecipherable]. Some of the Others I am sure they [undecipherable: would] do for Soldiers, a Considerable number of them will make [undecipherable] guns fit for [undecipherable: Store] Depot, and the Rest is [undecipherable] considerably less [undecipherable] to sell, than bring some that will do to help mount the Rest— M[r] Harned is of the Opinion that it will take about Thirty Months [undecipherable] and Stock what is worth doing in [undecipherable] Eighteen Months as you [undecipherable: proposed] — he is also of the Opinion that at the time mentioned above [undecipherable] may be repaired and Stocked [undecipherable] at Three Dollars each, and offered to do them and [undecipherable] need it— [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] you [undecipherable] to be able to determine correctly what is and what is not worth doing, and we [undecipherable] as done [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] you have in [undecipherable] it to you— It will be attended with a great [undecipherable: scheme] to get [undecipherable] men with [undecipherable: tools] and [undecipherable] them at work — and there is no expense that will be [undecipherable] except you [undecipherable] to work in [undecipherable: winter], not if the Large [undecipherable: Blacksmiths] there is a [undecipherable] them in them [undecipherable] Chambers and have a [undecipherable: Superintendent] to each — but [undecipherable] I [undecipherable] I think [undecipherable] be more employed to advantage — if not inconsistent in the mean time to have them done [undecipherable] — As you [undecipherable] but one [undecipherable] I [undecipherable] more to have them [undecipherable] only — and [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] me within any thing that will be [undecipherable: allowed] for a [undecipherable] if I can [undecipherable] one that could [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] — if it is only [undecipherable] this — As we [undecipherable] a great many [undecipherable] in the books and other works, and there is [undecipherable] in [undecipherable], I think it will [undecipherable] be [undecipherable: cheaper] to have them [undecipherable] here — [undecipherable] get them [undecipherable] from [undecipherable], I presume — There is wanting three gallons of [undecipherable: Sweet-oil] — the [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable] to all Winter — [undecipherable: Some] presented [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] — and [undecipherable] then [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] — the God will [undecipherable: please] to [undecipherable] except them not being in [undecipherable] but having my right hand [undecipherable] and not [undecipherable] it — I [undecipherable] you [undecipherable] letter of 16^th [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] has never [undecipherable] when this [undecipherable] — there is no [undecipherable] here that will [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] without [undecipherable] which [undecipherable] be done at [undecipherable] — but I think the [undecipherable] I [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] will [undecipherable] to [undecipherable: Purchase] [undecipherable: New Arms] on the [undecipherable] — I have [undecipherable] you of 15^th [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — Now forwarded by [undecipherable] the following articles to [undecipherable]: [undecipherable list of items with quantities] [undecipherable signature]