Treasury Department Revenue Office Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r. Commissary Military Stores Philadelphia [upper right notation: War Departm^t / Revenue Office / [undecipherable] / [undecipherable]] [RECORD stamp] [archival notation: No / State / Nov 21] Treasury Department Revenue office dated 18^th Aug^t 1794 The five thousand cartridge boxes that were contracted for with M^r Tinsley of Columbus in Virginia, are become an object of discussion on which your opinion in writing, is requested. It appears that those which have been made are offer for acceptance by him are about one sixteenth of an inch, less in the bore of the wood than the pattern, but there are circumstances in the appearance of the pattern cartridge box, that [undecipherable: lead] a belief that the wooden part had been by some means changed, and M^r Tinsley insists upon it, that it has been the case, and one whose bore was larger than the original exhibited by him, put in its place. The probability that the thing may have happened arises from its having been [undecipherable: sent] to [undecipherable] or two Saddlers shops in Philadelphia, to the purpose of having patterns taken. Those which have been [undecipherable: offered] for acceptance by M^r Tinsley have been tried, and admittedly a cartridge made up containing an ounce ball. On these and other circumstances you may satisfy yourself further by a conference with Cap^t Thomas [undecipherable: Holt] who is now in town for that place and was appointed [undecipherable] the Inspector of the cartridge boxes on behalf of Gov^t. Your [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the deliberation and [undecipherable], [undecipherable] whether on being satisfied that the [undecipherable] readily admits a cartridge made up containing an ounce ball, they may be safely received on the contract aforesaid. I am Sir [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Commissioner of the Revenue [seal] Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r