[67] North Bend January 29. 1796 Sir The preceding is a copy of a letter from the hon. the Secretary of War the 3^d Ult. I received and [undecipherable] at this old House of this late and honorable [undecipherable] for the [undecipherable] season, [undecipherable] by his [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] Secretary of War, and also, he [undecipherable] failure [undecipherable] make the [undecipherable] agreeable to his letter. I then [undecipherable] to the Secretary of War. He on [undecipherable] done here for the ordinary Department by my direction. In a letter from me, to the [undecipherable] relative to [undecipherable] a receipt of one [undecipherable] his lots, of which the first [undecipherable] it is in [undecipherable] between you [undecipherable] one, for [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] them. I [undecipherable] had [undecipherable] several [undecipherable] his letters of mine on my behalf, is [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] the money [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. I [undecipherable] sir, I [undecipherable] myself [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] money would be [undecipherable] sufficient [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] relations of Mr. [undecipherable] with his provisions. This is a reason and [undecipherable] this letter, I have six [undecipherable] [undecipherable] dollars, which you brought me, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] dollars. I [undecipherable] have [undecipherable] a letter to you [undecipherable] Post from the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] are in the hands of the Bank of New York for me. The [undecipherable] dollars [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] sufficient to [undecipherable] the debts contracted for the United States [undecipherable] the [undecipherable]. I am [undecipherable] other [undecipherable] [undecipherable] will [undecipherable] [undecipherable] account. An estimate [undecipherable] to the Secretary of War [undecipherable] The money [undecipherable] in my hands with [undecipherable] mention from his [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] be [undecipherable]. I will be [undecipherable], [undecipherable] what the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in his letters to me concerning any Public money — The due application of it. I have been [undecipherable] the very [undecipherable] necessity of borrowing several [undecipherable] [undecipherable] large sums of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to prevent the [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Engineers from being [undecipherable]. [Continued] [undecipherable] regularly [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the money [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in my hands [undecipherable] [undecipherable] making [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] the ma[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] any money [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] may be [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] send an estimate [undecipherable] it would cost. I have the honor to be, with good respect & esteem, Sir Your most obedient [undecipherable: signature] [Col. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Engineers [undecipherable] [undecipherable]] The following is a copy of a letter from [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] in answer to the above. War [undecipherable] January [undecipherable] 1796 Sir I received your letter [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] a letter [undecipherable] the Secretary of War of the 21^st [undecipherable] December 1795 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] the details of the [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the money [undecipherable], and to have [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. The [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] preparations [undecipherable] [undecipherable], [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] before, and at the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] it as having of [undecipherable] the object [undecipherable]. There are [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in future [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and to [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] some information to the Secretary of War for [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] proceedings — as to that, I [undecipherable] done. I have [undecipherable] nothing to do with it. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] his instructions from the Secretary to do it, [undecipherable] he will give an account immediately [undecipherable] to the estimate of what is to be done. I will do it as soon as I have some documents to regulate my calculations when a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and a list of Military stores [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable].