[undecipherable] Pittsburgh 20^th April [17__] Since the honour of acknowledging the rec't of yours of the [undecipherable] — I am confident that a considerable saving of the public money may be taken by abolishing different arrangements in the Q'Master Department for this post & its dependances — [undecipherable] will my ideas under the different posts, & propose such [undecipherable] arrangements as may be substituted without any injury to the public Service. Pittsburgh Artificers — within this last [undecipherable] there has been a very great Expence — I would propose discharging all of them. When the public service requires any article to be made on any piece from executed, it had but be done on a Contract with [undecipherable] who will do it on the Cheapest & best terms — Boatmen — there are a great many private boats now engaged in carrying on freight between this place & [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] will reduce the rate of transportation as low as it can be done for — I would propose employing them on freight [undecipherable] transporting [undecipherable] keeping the public Boatmen — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — I think the public Service can be well done without any teams at this place — the Garrison will be best supply'd with fuel on contracts, and every other species of hauling [undecipherable] had but be had. — [undecipherable] & Ground Rent — I think there ought to be no charge of [undecipherable] kind at this post — the garrison I should suppose amply sufficient to afford an office for the Q'Master Department & stores adequate to the public demand — since this [undecipherable] as well now observed that there are a number of Public buildings, which have been erected on private Lots — I await your instructions respecting them — Q'Master Gen'l & Clerks — I think until general arrangements take place, the D. Q'Master & one Clerk, had best be continued Fort Randall There has hitherto been an assistant Q'Master at this post — there can be no occasion for him — Fort Franklin [Le Boeuf?] & [Presque Isle?] [undecipherable] three Masters & Waggon Master — there can be no occasion for them — The only land transport is between [Le Boeuf?] and [Presque Isle?] — [undecipherable] appears to be very well superintended & accounted for by the D'Masters at those two Posts. — [undecipherable] Q'Masters — at each of these posts it will be necessary at least for the present, to continue the assistant Q'Master Oswego There has been an assistant Q'Master at this place — there can be no occasion for him. — I have the honour to be Sir with great respect. your Very Humb. Serv't. Gen'l James Wilkinson Commander in Chief &c [undecipherable] D'Master Gen'l