[Duplicate] New London March 19^th 1794 When I wrote to you by Mr Backus I neglected I believe to inform you that the Irons belonging to the Carriages of the Ordnance here are generally very good and might suit for new Carriages and should you think [strikethrough: so] best I could have the Ordnance mounted in this Country — A Number of Cannon are now exposed and I am anxious for a proper house to put them in, the Buildings occupied by the Publick are already filled and indeed improperly constructed at any rate for the reception of the Guns, unless they were packed up in Boxes a method I do not like, There is however such a Necessity that this plan be adopted or a house erected immediately for their reception. A Building of Forty or Fifty feet in length and Twenty four in Breadth with two Stories and a Garret would be sufficient to contain the Cannon in the upper apartments, and a Number of other Articles might be deposited on the Ground Floor, If this house was erected at the Publick expence It would save much money to the Publick in a few Years, as the Rent we now pay is very high and the houses very insufficient. I have ventured to give you my opinion as to what I think would promote the Interests of the United States in this Business, but even now submit it intirely to your Judgment and have only to beg you will favor me with Instructions on the Subject as early as possible — The Bearer of this Letter Cap^t Tinsley has made some Proposals to me this day to undertake the repairs of the Cartridge Boxes here. I imagine on a critical examination of them there will not be found more than a few hundred fit for actual use — If the quantity of Musket Cartridge Boxes shall be made equal to the demands a number must be repaired, and a still greater number made entirely new, as the wooden work of many of the old Cartridge Boxes whose Patterns was lost or destroyed before I took the charge of the Stores, and many so badly constructed that I imagine they will be rejected — I have taken the liberty to refer M^r Tinsley to you, he will shew you a Specimen of his work and I believe he is amply equal to the Business I have the honor to be Sir your most Obedient humble Servant Tho^s Coit Samuel Hodgdon esquire Philadelphia [Letter from Cap^t Coit / New London / March 19. 1794 / Duplicate]