[Illegible Text — some or all pages of this file are wholly or in part illegible] [XXVII-6 c] [463 p 1] My Dear Sir Boston Sep. 12. 1790 The several Persons whose acquaintance I have been honored with through your introduction express themselves much satisfied with our Bank of America. This circumstance is the more agreeable as it tends to cultivate a good understanding between the Citizens of each State & to cement that Union so necessary to the Happiness of our Country. M[rs.] [undecipherable] has rendered herself very agreeable but her departure which will be in all [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and will be [felt?] by the Ladies of my Family. Report says that twelve Cutters or [undecipherable] [undecipherable] are to be built the [undecipherable] on public account, of [undecipherable], pray inform the Secretary of the Treasury, [undecipherable] when [undecipherable] it [undecipherable] told they [undecipherable] be. That in this Town is established a Sail Cloth Manufacture on a very extensive Scale. The intention in promoting this [Object?] is to give employment to the Poor & to render our Country less dependent on Foreigners for that Article, on whom power it was by withholding their Canvas, or if intercepted, to prevent the Sailing of our Ships. The establishment of this Factory will cost between thirty and forty thousand Dollars & as I am more than one third of the [undecipherable] while it becomes an Object of consideration, no pecuniary influence however operates on this occasion as the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] meet a ready Sale both here & in the Southern States, but a wish that our State Ships, like those of other nations, should be clothed with our own Manufacture. The quality by the enclosed Certificate you will find highly approved, indeed it is universally allowed to be superior to any foreign Duck whatever. This I impute to the particular [undecipherable] of our Flax & the manner of manufacturing [undecipherable], our Director is an Englishman who carried on this branch of business for more than thirty years on a very [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. He is not only a worthy man but a thorough master of the business – at present about sixteen hundred yards of Cloth is the average for each Week & this two thousand has been made, but the great consumption of Flax has rendered it scarce & dear. The season however is fast approaching when the produce of the year will come to market, and as it has been a plentiful one, we flatter ourselves the Works will be extended during the next year to four thousand yards a week, if so, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] will be happily [undecipherable] for. [undecipherable] the Secretary has no Agent here, M[r.] Lewis Dalton is our [undecipherable] [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] contract with him. I know your zeal in promoting every thing that is conducive to our Country, and [undecipherable] presume you will excuse this particular [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that does not immediately [undecipherable] your Department. You know my dear Sir, when any new employment offers there are as many applicants. Cap^t Lyke of this Town, has requested me to ask your influence in obtaining an appointment for him to Command one of the Cutters proposed to be built, this I cannot refuse to do because I believe him to be an able Commander, but it would be highly improper in me to name him before Cap^t Williams, who I am told is on [underline: the list], if however there should be two for this [State?] [Missing Page/s — some or all pages of this file are wholly or in part missing] I believe Cap^t Lyke very Capable of Commanding one of them. Miss Breck is very desirous of [seeing?] Miss [Knox?] & I believe will accompany M[r.] Dalton's Family to New York for that purpose. M[rs.] Breck [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in presenting our best respects to M[rs.] & Miss Knox. I am my Dear Sir with very [undecipherable] sentiments of friendship & your obedient [undecipherable] Sam[uel] Breck [Hon. the Henry Knox Esquire]