[undecipherable] Pittsburgh 17^th Feb^y 1797 Sir, The United States have succeeded in a real [undecipherable: steal?] of property at Detroit. The whole ground on which the town of Detroit is situated seems originally to have been reserved by y^e [undecipherable] for the use of y^e British. The Merchants and tradesmen, choosing to live under the protection of the garrison. Grants, if [undecipherable] have been given to them which or have have formed a regular town — but there yet remains a[undecipherable] the town a quantity of vacant ground which of course becomes the property of the United States. This from its situation is valuable. But in order to preserve it, there will be a necessity of preventing any persons building on it [for] the United States should have it laid out in lots & sold — the vacant ground I allude to is without the Pickets — within the Pickets or inside of the Fort & towns where there are a number of houses, lots of ground which the United States have succeeded to, such as the Connecticut barracks, three houses near[undecipherable] & two large granaries for the garrison and on one side of the pickets a [undecipherable] yard, consisting of a number of work shops — I was informed, when at Detroit, that there were a number of other buildings, those were not yet [undecipherable] for which had belonged to the British Gov[ernmen]t, but [undecipherable] and more than the removal were [undecipherable] by [undecipherable] owing to the [undecipherable] Citizens ought to be [undecipherable] — there is [undecipherable] property belonging to the United States at this point from which it would be best to have regulated and [undecipherable] — I have taken the liberty of suggesting these things, [undecipherable] especially a charge of system on the [undecipherable]. [A survey?] will take place it as the [undecipherable] of my [undecipherable] will [undecipherable] but any directions you would think proper may be [undecipherable]. I am, Sir with great respect your most obedient & very [undecipherable] Serv^t [undecipherable: An: McHenry? Jr.] Q[uarter] Master Gen^l. [To:] His [undecipherable] the James McHenry Sec^y of War