[February 2. 1797 The Secretary of War Received] Sir, In the Contract between the United States and the Proprietors of the Hope Furnace in Rhode Island for Cannon — it is provided "that an allowance for the extra expence of boring the Cannon from the solid shall be made by the United States, if on a consideration of the said expence and all advantages & disadvantages attending the operation, it shall appear that anything ought to be paid on that score to the Contractors" As the Proprietors of the Furnace have rendered an account for the Ninety four Cannon which have been proved & receipted for and in which they make a very considerable charge for the extra expence said to have been incurred by boring them from the solid — I will thank you to inform me, what allowance if any ought to be made to them. It is also proper to inform you, that the said Proprietors claim payment from the United States for a number of Cannon amounting to about six thousand dollars, which they say were bursted in consequence of some improper means used in the proving of them — & beg leave therefore to request the propriety of causing an inquiry to be made into the truth of this allegation. I am very respectfully Sir your most obed^t Serv^t. The Secretary at War