Providence December 1790. Sir. Captain Sweet has now taken the fifth and last load of Military Stores, as p^r enclosed Return, weighing same, for freight and delivering the same at West Point he is to receive Dollars p^r agreement. This load completes the Return of [strikethrough: the] [strikethrough: Military] Stores deposited in this State, [strikethrough: agreeable to] the Return of the 16^th of July 1787 except Two 18 pound Cannon that were claimed by, and delivered to the Owner of Hope Furnace the 27^th of November 1789, which I duly communicated to you — also Seventyone 24 pound, — One Hundred and Ten 12 pound, — fifty one 4 pound, — One 4 pound, and Eleven 3 pound round Shot, in all Two Hundred and forty four, which were lodged in M^r Richard Borden's Store at Fall River, out on my collecting the publick Stores deposited in that Quarter. I find the principal part of these Shot has been carted off, forty six or [undecipherable: which] only remaining, and from the best information I could obtain, I am inclined to believe the Shot have been carried to the forge at or near Taunton, and there sold, and that M^r Borden himself was concerned in the affair. — Under these circumstances, I have thought it most adviseable not to raise the tools or remaining Shot. There is likewise One 18 pound Cannon missing, which was included in said Return, and said to be stored up on Col^o William Halls Wharf, but I have spent five Days labour in searching and digging for it in vain — the probability therefore is, that said Cannon was not there deposited, or is lost forever. The two Brass 4 pounders, mounted on field Carriages as mentioned in my Letter of the 5^th instant, are retained in possession of the Artillery Company in this Town, commanded by Colonel Daniel Tillinghast. — By not hearing from you on this subject, — Captain Sweet having taken the last Load of Stores, and presuming Sir, that you would readily gratify the anxious wishes of a deserving Corps, as well as the desires of the Inhabitants of this Town, as far as may be consistent with Propriety and the public good, I have been induced to retain those Pieces, subject at all times to your Order. The Stores have been shipped in as good order and as expected, considering they were in such a decaying, confused State at the time I received them of Major Bugg. I have discovered sundry Articles in the several Deposits which were not included in the original Return, and which have been shipped with the other Stores to West Point, Viz^t — fifteen 12 pound [undecipherable: Cann] — One Hundred 18 pound grape shot confined, — a quantity of Match Rope, — a number of Tubes and Tins, or sharp't Shell — One 6 pound Cannon — Seventyone 24 pound, — fifty two 6 pound, and twenty four 4 pound Shell, — Four Boxes of Musket Cartridges, and One Cask of Damaged Powder — the two last Articles with the 52 6^th Shot are still here to go with the last load. The Publick Stores being now all shipped for West Point, it will be necessary that my Receipt on the Return transmitted to you on the 16^th of July 1787 should be cancelled by a counter one from you. My Account against the United States, as Superintendent of the publick Stores, deposited in this State, and for Advances &c^a made for removing them from the Places of Deposit to the Landing, shall be, with the necessary Vouchers, forwarded by the next Post. With great Respect and Esteem I have the Honor to be Sir Your Most Obedient and Most Hum^e Servant [Hon^ble Knox Esquire Secretary at War]