[30 Ap^l 1 92 Copy Letter to y Sec.^y at War] [Copy] Lancaster Ap^l 30^th 1792. Sir I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 2^d and 17^th 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— An extract which I rec'd this day from Major Craig Acknowledges the rec't of the 20 Rifles at Pittsburgh in good order. the Observation to make on the bullet-moulds I took the liberty of making to you as my first communication on the business— on the 1^st you desired to be informed how many Rifles are Actually finished. & nether the total of 800 Will be finished by the 1^st or 10^th May. and also nether the Contract can be extended was to Obtain 400 or 100 by the 1 July. on the 27 you desire & know how many are completed and how many Additional can be furnished in Lancaster in the Month of May— owing to disappointment in obtaining Barrels it is [undecipherable] Workmen in Lancaster have had full employment— so that of 800 expected I [undecipherable] 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 800. of 180 Contracted for with Jacob Welshans 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. I may get the rest as many more from here by the 1 July, but of this I am not yet certain Knowing that it would be deficiency of the number be supplied, I made a late agreement with [undecipherable] of York for 50 Rifles. his representations [undecipherable] this Day but I am sorry to say that the appearance, many of them at half so badly finished that I cannot approve of him without particular — and hand one for the purpose. the length of the Barrels of the Calibres are right. but they are badly Started, the rounding not uniform or well polished. some of the Barrels not well rifled. are many of the Locks better finished by 1^st July. but I am afraid to depend on him [strikethrough: attend] unless I have your Sanction, as early as possible I shall find out what can be done at [undecipherable] & inform you with much respect I have the honor to be Sir Y^r [undecipherable] [His Honble Major Gen'l Knox Sec.^y War Departm^t] P.S. Jacob Welshkans has just assured he has 128 Rifles on the road which will be here this evening. from his Character I have little doubts, they will please. he will engage to deliver 50 more in May if as many in June