Lancaster Ap^l 30^th 1792 Sir I have had the honour to receive your letters of the 21. and 27th Instant, the first I would have answ^d before now could I have given you the Information you wished for— even now I can only do it partially— The inclosed which I rec^d this day from Major Craig Acknowledges the Rec^t of the 50 Rifles at Pittsburgh in good order— the Observation he makes on the bullet-molds I took the liberty of making to you on my first communication on the business— — on the 21^st you desired to be informed how many Rifles are Actually finished, & neither the total of 600 will be finished by the 1^st or 10^th May and also neither the Contract can be extended so as to Obtain 900 or 1100 by the 1 July— on the 27^th you desire to know how many are completed and how many Additional can be furnished in Lancaster in the Month of May— owing to disappointment in obtaining Barrells it is but lately Workmen in Lancaster have had full employment— so that of 500 expected 270 only have been Actually delivered, but within the month of may you may depend on from 500 to 550 in this place Alone— and by the 1^st July, they have made their Arrangements to deliver, as many as will complete the number of 600— of 150 contracted for with Jacob Welshhans in York on Acc^t of himself and others, I know that a hundred and twenty at least are finished & I expect them in a day or two, if they are good four yet perhaps as many more from him by the 1^st July, but of this I am not yet certain— his Knowing that we would be deficient of the number expected, I made a late agreement with Jacob Seller of york for 50 Rifles. he has presented them this day, but I am sorry to say that the appear many of them at least so badly finished that I cannot approve of them without particular instructions for the purpose. the length of the Barrells & the Calibers are right, but they are badly Stocked, the mounting not uniform or well polished, some of the Barrells not well rifled, and many of the locks go off at half-cock— he offers to deliver 100 more, better finished by 1^st July, but I am afraid to depend on him [strikethrough: without] unless I have your Sanction, as early as possible I shall find out what can be done at Carlisle & Inform you with much respect I have the honor to be Sir Y^r The Honble Major Gen^l. Knox Sec^y War Department. P.S. Jacob Welshhans has just arrived he has 128 Rifles on the road which will be here this evening. from his Character I have little doubt they will please. he will engage to deliver 50 more in May & as many in June