Philadelphia 17^th February 1791 Sir, I embraced opportunity to request you swear the oath of the Inspectors of the Cloathing for the present year. I am Sir Your most Obed^t Servant James M^cHenry Esq^r Samuel Hodgdon --- Philadelphia 7^th January 1791 Sir I have received your note relative to the proposed Steal buttons. At the request of the [strikethrough: procurer] more than two months ago I furnished him with such as I thought fit for the purpose. It seems in the end that those they were sent therefrom he employed some person under his own direction to make others more suitable. I concluded from having heard nothing on the subject latterly that they were necessary and and on the business of the Warmaster. It is needless for me to inform again as I have a further knowledge of the business now than I possessed when the first were made — The process who is to provide these ought in my opinion in common with the other provisions to find Contractors skilled in the business and hold them accountable to furnish articles as an inspection shall be approved. I am Sir Your most Ob^t hum^t James M^cHenry Samuel Hodgdon Secretary of War