[T D R O^r October 5^th 1799] Sir I recieved after your departure your letter of the 30 Ult^o relative to the forwarding of the militia's supplies. I called upon Mr. Egg on the subject & found he had set out after the President with last Sundays dispatches — I wrote first to Major Hodgdon requesting information what he had recieved since his last information to you, & Nicholls Souls dispatched this day. — To Mr Francis I wrote in like manner, mentioning him to inform one what remained to be procured of the Articles for the ordered for the militia from this Office, and what remained to be procured, all the orders for the same service heretofore received by him otherwise than from this Office, which is Francis found to have been frequent. He called on me to day, and informed me, that he had procured every thing ordered in both ways, except the articles in your letter to me, which was delivered to him on Sunday by one of the Gentlemen of your office. I have seen the rough draught of your letter to M^r Hodgdon of the 29 Ult^o & have urged his expediting the articles there in mentioned — A letter from Col^l Fish of the 22 Ult^o assured me that 2000 Blankets would be forwarded by the middle of that week [either 25 or 26 Sep^t] Similar assurances were given about the shoes. — Not one of either has been received, nor a line of apology — I wrote to him urgently on the 24 & 29 — Capt Barry will sail as far as Providence on Saturday in a brig that can carry 100 Tons of live oak (& more). Two Vessels from New York and New London will also bring wood if they can take it. This business for the War Department does no service to the receipts of the Revenues & light houses. It obstructs me from them in a degree that is not satisfactory to my self. — I have the honor [to be with y real respect Sir y^r mo: Obt Ser] The Sec^y of the Tsy Signed S. Coxe C. R.