Sir Alsburg 15 Aug^t 1795 Major favor of the 16 Inst^nt is this moment come to hand. Previous to the establishment of the the mail Boat I suggested to you as my Opinion that the distance that was ordinarily assigned to Boat N^o 3 was too great to be regularly performed at all seasons of the year, and I have frequently on representation of M^r Dugan master of that Boat endeavored to console him with hopes of obtaining permission from the Post M^r Gen^l to substitute the distance of his route by establishing a fourth boat on a plan similar to that practiced by Gov^t Putnam, but as that could not be immediately effected I advised Gov Mitchell Post Master of Alms Place to employ two or three Boats men in a Canoe to assist the boat in high water. by this means I was in hopes that some degree of regularity would have been kept until a fourth boat could have been established. I am not yet informed whether the Canoe I gave to assist the Mast Boat are employed yet or not. Previous to the receipt of your Letter I had instructed Major Kirkpatrick on his way to Fort Washington to pay particular attention to this business & to pay M^r Dugan & his men off to the end of the last year & transmit the account to me, and as the Major is still here waiting your orders to descend the Ohio it shall give him the necessary directions respecting the