Portsmouth (N.H.) Nov. 3^d 1796 Sir I rec^d your favor of the 18^th Ulto. by last post — agreeably to your request I called on Mess^rs Sheafe, and endeavoured to prevail on them to accede to your propositions. Proposition N^o 1. To this they answer cannot. 11 Dollars P^r cwt is the lowest they can afford to furnish the Iron and work for. They will not allow Crop weight. Proposition 2^d They do not consent to receive any change for Carriage and founding Balls; unless Government furnish the Irons, of the Size requir, now it is (not to the length only, without being worked Proposition 3^d It is a custom with all Blacksmiths, in this town to charge as from the Weight of all Blanks and Poundings that are Simple, because they are willing to withdraw their Charge from the Clarks, but the weight of the conveyers they say they must charge as from — As we are really wanting on of large Drawbars of Iron for the Furnace & Shops, it becomes necessary that some agreement to quickly close with the furnishes to price of Furnace reported. Mr Hubbell appears to have his whole furnace raised by the 10^th instant. Isaac Hep ( [undecipherable] ) Francis Varnow Esq^r Purveyor.