[Docket notation:] David Ames Octo — [undecipherable] 1794 [undecipherable] and arms thing &c #2 Do— [214] [244] [214] [L19] Major Samuel Hodgdon Efquire Superintendent of the Ordinance of Military Stores — Philadelphia Springfield Octo. 17. 1794 Sir I received your letter containing directions to engage the Men to begin the making of Arms at Springfield — and have got about two third of them & expect to obtain the Reft soon — but can due nothing at all — tol the Shop is fit for the Bufinefs — Cap. Bryant having in ufe all that is fit to work in — and Says that he cant make no alterations without your Orders — nor has he any Money to pay the Expence of its and would Sir, take the Liberty to lay before you the Benefits of attending immediately to it, before the winter comes, fo cold as to prevent the Carpenters, Mafons, from Working to advantage — And pray that I may have an answer to this by the next Poft — and money (or an order for it) agreeable to fome Eftimate of Expence, if putting the Bufinefs in operations — which by General Knox's Requeft, I made out to him when he was in Bofton — but from the [undecipherable] of Bufinefs forgot a Number of Materials — as Sheet — Coal — Wood for [undecipherable: probable reading "Stocking"] — Grindftone & Brick for the Smithy — — and as the winter is approaching faft, think it of Necefity, that we Should have a much Larger Stock of Iron, & Brafs — than I mentioned in my Letter to General Knox; alfo that my felf, or fom other Perfon of fuff Propper — Should have orders to purchas the prevelige for the Warter works — which will be of grate advantage in this Bufinefs — and if it could be attended to Now, and the foundation laid before the Ice gets in the Rivers, we can go on to finish it — the Expence of defecent articles as Mentioned above will be as follows, as ny as I can tel at Prefent — 500 wate of Steel a 6.......................£16.13.4 500.[undecipherable] oo of Brafs a [undecipherable]...........-31..5..0 30 hides of feals a 30.......................-30..0.0 500 Stocks to be a Seasoning or plank for them a bout 15..0..0 9. ton of Iron delivered here that [undecipherable] a [undecipherable]......69..0..0 2 grindStones....a 54/ each...................5:8..0 :£ 160..6.4 Now follows what I made out to General Knox the Prevelige for the Warter works............100..0.. for the Biding the Shop Suitable for the Bufinefs that is to be don by warter...................£ 200..0..0 20 vifes 25^th each.................37..0:0 20 hand Ditto.....a 45[s].....................4.10.0 5 anvils a 150 wate each a [undecipherable]....30..0..0 5 pare of Bellowfes a 72[s]...................10..0..0 1 ton of Iron.....a [undecipherable]............30..0..0 for files & Screw plates......................10..0..0 2 hundred of Brafs............................14: 0..0 for emfsabelt Emery and rotten Ston...........4..0..0 for reparing the Shop on the Wich I fuppofe...15..0..0 for 6 thoufand of Brick a 10[s]...............5..0..0 :£ 636..4.4 The Aprentifes I have not got; but Expect I can — if I could inform them on what terms they would be admitted into the Works — Should like to have a pattern Sent on to work by as foon as is Convenient — I hope Sir you will let the Necefity of this Bufinefs be an Appolegay for Seeking an answer to it — And Money to procure the Tools, and Melerals to begin the work — — And Am with every Sentiment of Refpect and eSteme your moft obedient humble Servant David Ames N.B. if you Should have the Guns mounted with Iron, the Brafs will not be wanted Major Samuel Hodgdon