[from the Secretary of the War [undecipherable] dated May 15^th 1792 answer] War-department, May 10 1792. Sir. I have received your letter of the 4^th inst. If you can inlist any artificers for the service, on the conditions as mentioned in the militia act of the 5^th of March last, you have my permis- sion. You must not exceed the number of [undecipherable] and none but good mechanics, such as carpenters, wheelwrights, blacksmiths, & armorers are to be engaged [strikethrough: undecipherable] I am, Sir Your humble serv: H Knox Captain Bezaleel Howe