[Letter from Caleb Gibbs, March 9^th 1796] [Received from State Dep^t. Nov. 24, 1894. R.P.O. 401810.] Boston March 9^th 1796 Sir Your fav^r of the 6^th Jan^y has been received, in answer to which I wish beg leave to observe, that the 8 boxes of bolts is quite different from the 592 copper bolts, the boxes supposed to contain Butt Bolts as the others are bolts for the timbers &^c with respect to weight, number and measure, it will be impossible for me to deliver them unless all the cases, Casks, Boxes are opened and assorted, as I never could come at a sight of the Invoice or Invoices of those articles you mention, and as the way I had to [strikethrough: obtain] to accorate a statement as I have, was by applying to the custom-house and takeing a Copy of the Manifest of the Ship [strikethrough: which] which brought those articles. the Invoices I have since your letter received an Invoice of, but no number of goods are mentioned, only the prices. If the cases of sheet copper are opened it will be impossible to get the number of sheets in the same box again as they were originally screwed in, and I think it would injure the copper generally, this we had a tryal of by one of the Cases bursting in transporting from the Ship to the navy Yard. You may rest be assured that no one person employed in the service of the United States would wish to be more accurate in their business than I would, and none more happy in giving satisfaction Inclose you have the Returns from the Navy Yard in this place for the Months of Jan^y & Feb^y 1796. I am Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r Your m^st Obed^t Humb^l Servant Intendant of Naval & Military Stores Caleb Gibbs Philadelphia P.S. No Invoice has ever been rec^d. of the sheet copper Copper bolts. nails. bat. bolts. &^c— either by the Naval Agent or any one Else that I can hear of — C.G.