[War Office May / 0795 / Handspikes to be re- / -ceived—] War Office May 11. 1795. Sir, When lately at the Navy Yard M^r Humphreys shewed M^r Francis a sample I ask'd hand spikes, at 3^d each. It appeared to us all that it was eligible to buy them, a thousand in number, for tho' many were tender, the wood growing in the [undecipherable] not a large proportion would answer in the fortifications as well as on Ship board for working the great guns. M^r Humphreys just now informs me that M^r Francis declines receiving them because they are [for?] the fortifications — and [undecipherable] they may be received into the public [stores?]. Here I am apprehensive they will take up more room than they are worth unless they can be placed in some upper room under the roof which can receive nothing else. They are landed on M^r [Donly's?] wharf, who wants them removed, & will besides charge wharfage. They are only hewed [square?] — not dressed into form. y^r ob^t H. Pickering Sam^l Hodgdon Esq.