War Department No. 124 Aug. 30th. 1793

Sir

                         I have received your letter of the

23 d instant.

    It is with regret that I inform you that an infectious

fever rages in this town in a considerable degree, and that it took its rise not far from the Ordnance store in Water Street, in which store the clothing for the troops were deposited and packed up for transportation.

  As it is possible that the clothing which was packed up 

and sent from the Ordnance after the 6th instant may be infected with contagious matter of the said disorder, it will be proper that the packages containing the [illegible] Clothing should be stored for the present in some retired store. I have written to some eminent Physicians to request they would devise some expedient to dispossess the clothing of the said contagious matter in case any should be therein.

               It is hoped that the idea of the clothing

having received any infection may be unfounded, but it is prudent to take all possible precautions.

    It may be proper not to mention this circum-
                                                               stance

stance, or to raise any alarm about it either in the minds of the inhabitants of troops.

                            I am Sir
                           with great esteem
                          your humble serv[ill.]
     
                                     Knox