[Cover page. Heavily damaged by ink blotting. Text partially legible. Center strip reads: "War Department" and [undecipherable]. Large script at lower left reads "Samuel [undecipherable]".] [Cover/wrapper of enclosure. Endorsement notation reads: "March 6^th 1793 / [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] Christie [undecipherable] to / Tench Coxe — [undecipherable] to / [undecipherable] on [undecipherable] accounts".] War Department March 7^th 1793 Sir, The Secretary of War has directed me to transmit you the enclosed Copy of a letter from Gabriel Christie to Tench Coxe Es^qr dated March 2^d 1793 — representing that a large quantity of Shot and Shells the property of the United States are now lying exposed to speculation at a ferry about five Miles from Havre de Grace in Maryland. The Secretary requests that you will take immediate measures for their removal to this City; and that if necessary, you will repair to that place in order to carry this request into certain effect — I am Sir with esteem Your humble Servant (*) [undecipherable: probable reading Stagg] [undecipherable] Samuel Hodgdon Es^qp March 6^th 1793 M^r Coxe has the honor to enclose to the Secretary at War a letter received from M^r Christie of the new Maryland representation, to which the Secretary will be pleased to return an answer thro M^r Coxe or otherwise. as he thinks best. M^r Christies residence is at the mouth of Susquehannah The Secretary at War Havre de Grace. March 2^d. 1793 Tench Cox Es^qr Dear Sir, There lays at a ferry about five miles from this a quantity of Cannon Shot and Shells. belonging to the United States. they have been there ever since the Siege of York. and I am told that there was about 150 Tons at first, they are now reduced to about 20 or 30 Tons for every vessel that wants Ballast take what they want of them. and no person has the care of them. I am concerned in a forge near that and would wish to purchase what is left to work up into Bar Iron. will you be so kind as to inform me who has the selling of them, and if you know endeavour to let me hear what price will be taken for them, if said one year from this they will be all gone and the United States have nothing for them. therefore should think something had better be got for them while any remains. you would oblige me by giving your answer to M^r Bond who will deliver you this I am Sir with Esteem Your Ob^t Servant (Signed) G. Christie —