War Department July 31^st 1793 Sir Your two letters with the which you honored me on the 27. 29^th Instant relatively to the hire have have been submitted to the President of the United States who has desired me to inform his entire Satisfaction at the Promptitude of your measures for the defence of said Point. I have now the honor to inform You that it has been decided by the Executive of the United States that no Augmentation of force of Forts belonging to any of the belligerent Powers can be permitted in our Ports — to the strict Principle You have been pleased to declare Your referent in your Communications to the Secretary of State. By the Report of the Collector, Master Warden and Deputy Collector of the Port of Philadelphia, Copy of which is enclosed, together with their Attestation, it will appear, that the Ship have has had three additional Guns, Your Consul since mounted, and some new Gun Carriages made have have not holes cut, which being designed for offensive use deemed as an Augmentation of force. The discretion which You have manifested in preventing British Vessels gaining Cannon of offense in our Ports upon a solid Ground of Distinction that You will immediately direct that the said Ship reduce her force to the Situation it was at the time you arrived and that the new port holes on Board be be demanded peremptorily and also that the new Gun Carriages be refunded to the Sieur [undecipherable] thereby your disarming being given that the proceedings [undecipherable] if there are no actual British Subject the time would not difficulty in obtaining due Clearance were determined and in case these [undecipherable] are not complied with [undecipherable] the matter Referred to the [undecipherable] of the United States [The Revd. Majr. Minister [undecipherable]]