[The Secretary of War's letter to the Committee of the House of Representatives, and Estimate, relatively to the Sea Board Fortifications.] War Office, January 10^th 1797. Sir, The Report from the department of War to Congress dated the twentieth day of January 1796, will enable the committee to form an opinion of the number and state of the forts and harbours, at the period to which it refers. The alterations in those forts that have taken place since that period, consist chiefly in depredations made by time, on such of them as have not been garrisoned; and in such repairs and additions as could be made by the Garrisons where Troops have been stationed, or that were wanting to their accommodation. In the former description are comprehended the works at Portland in the district of Maine; Portsmouth, in New Hampshire; Gloucester, Cape Ann, Salem, Marblehead, Massachusetts, New Port Rhode Island, New London, Connecticut, and Savannah, and Point Peter, Georgia. In the latter description are comprized the defences at Governors Island, New York; Mud Island, Philadelphia; Whetstone Point, Baltimore; Norfolk, Virginia; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Fort Johnson, Charleston, South Carolina. The forts which have been without Troops, must be presumed to have suffered considerable injury from time alone, & will require, if the circumstances of the military Establishment and frontiers should not admit of their being garrisoned, about three thousand five hundred dollars, annually to pay Persons to live in it, and superintend them, and for certain repairs necessary to prevent them from being perfectly useless. The forts that are garrisoned have been kept in repairs so far as the force stationed in them permitted, but it will require an additional grant of Money to finish some necessary Buildings and complete certain works, indispensible to their defence and preservation. I have subjoined an Estimate of the Expence, which may probably be required for the before recited purposes, during the present Year, and the Balance stated by the Treasury, to be unexpended of former Appropriations. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obt. Servant Signed, James McHenry