Fort Wayne November 4^th 1797 Sir To continue the language of my letter to you of the 1^st instant give me leave with disagreeable pleasure to inform you that the mistake you have pointed out in my ordnance return is just. I have not the smallest objections to continue my returns to Colonel Hodgdon but having never received orders on the subject have again transmitted them to the Secretary of War for his observation and pleasure where Sir I inform you that only 5 months I have been assisted in the ordnance department, I think it will not surprise you should any error be committed by me, However the rectitude of my heart is serene and I love the interest of my Country too well to do it a wrong action I dont know that I have a voucher missing through all the Business done by me in the ordnance department in this Country, to answer your question on the Quarter master department I have enclosed to the Secretary of War a return of Quarter Master Stores. I have also copied the list of ante found in your letter and return a copy of it herein with my observations [strikethrough: anserd to thern,] answer to them, To secure the papers of the ordnance department has cost me more pain then I can describe, should any inquiry be necessary into my conduct I am extremely willing it should take place, I have done all my public business under the eyes of both Generals and the Officers of the american army and to them for the support of my honor give me leave to call in question. I hope Sir that my own information to the Secretary of War will support my honor and that it may not be doubted in my own hand writing to him, I am lone in the department and this season have attended dried and aired the powder in the magazine it is now in good order with all the public property under my care. I arrived in this Garrison the 19^th of June last took a new account of the public property committed to my charge by Generals order, to Captain Matthew Ernest assistant Quarter master General on the business of that department give me leave in future to refer you to him, as I am only an assistant in the business. I have thus far Sir given to you my best information and hope it may be agreeable to you, for I do assure you all the public property committed to my care has been strictly attended to by me. If at any time or even in this letter I have committed any errors, I hope Colonel Hodgdon may lay the fault to the want of education and not a bad heart, I am Sir your Very respectful Hum^ble Serv^t Sam^l Henley C M S P. S. I should be obliged by an answer to this letter SH. [address leaf:] Colonel Sam^l Hodgdon Philadelphia [docket:] Samuel Henley Novem^r 4^th 1797