Memorandum of facts for Cou Smith. 1797. As we know the number of forts on the sea-board and having [undecipherable] the number of men which may be employed in garrisoning them, we can calculate [undecipherable] [strikethrough: undecipherable lines] Can that number keep them in repair? Can they afford the necessary military guards and [reliefs?] [margin: Can May / 12.] for the cannon and public property subject to [undecipherable]? Is it [undecipherable] not; but if I am mistaken there are military gentlemen in the house who can set me right. Again if we add the proposed 10 companies to N° 498 the force divided [undecipherable] among the [several?] forts, will [come?] about [undecipherable] to each. Let me be answered by military gentlemen whether even this number will be sufficient to keep them in repair much less to man them [properly?] in case of danger or invasion? But suppose a [undecipherable] distribution [undecipherable] and let the harbours most important and most [exposed?] [undecipherable] cent. Let us take for example [undecipherable] many? Charleston — a harbor [of?] [undecipherable] — most [Second?] [undecipherable] New York and New Port. Could [they?] be [assorted?] to the 3 forts from [undecipherable] [five?] hundred or [undecipherable] each containing [more?] than 800, this [undecipherable] would leave, [say?] about $[undecipherable], for all the other forts on the sea board. Let gentlemen reflect upon the state of the southern [undecipherable] of the union. Let them consider how far it is removed from [the?] Government; and if the [undecipherable] of a [undecipherable] we can expect a [undecipherable] to be formed of the wisdom of a [undecipherable] experience before succour can reach it. The [strikethrough: undecipherable lines at top of page] It has been suggested by a gentleman from [Maryland?], that they may suffer [undecipherable] in repair [undecipherable] [strikethrough: undecipherable lines] [to repair?] [undecipherable] work or doing duty in them as infantry is [undecipherable] of any [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] peace [undecipherable] it must be voluntary. Can it be the intention of [gentlemen?] to depend on the voluntary [undecipherable] of [militia?] to keep the forts in repair and [undecipherable] — Can we [undecipherable] doubt that in time of danger the [militia?] of the sea ports [undecipherable] [margin: my [Doubts?]] [undecipherable] show [undecipherable] elasticity and spirit in their defense; but it is more than upon [undecipherable] that these forts should be [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] called upon [undecipherable] not [undecipherable] be [undecipherable] with [undecipherable] in a state of order & [undecipherable] [undecipherable] incapable of defense. The [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] by being far completed and of their being [undecipherable] by [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of that man's [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] can we expect a [sufficiently?] correct estimate to be formed of the wisdom of a nation [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] from Government forts at such distant points ought to be [undecipherable] at least [undecipherable] capable to [hold?] an enemy at bay [undecipherable] information [undecipherable] whether or [undecipherable] [undecipherable] could be [succeeded?] [undecipherable] the militia or [undecipherable] detachments from the neighbouring forts. It will I believe be impossible to resist [acknowledging?] of this truth when the [opposed?] [situation?] of [peace?] the [capabilities?] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] examined [relatively?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] colonies and governments of the [undecipherable].