[Original removed for security purposes] Mount Vernon 6 May 1798. Dear Sir Amongst the variety of matters which have come before Congress, for the purpose of preparation, in the dernier resort—in short as a salutary measure at all times, & under all circumstances,—Arsenals and Cannon Founderies, have occupied its attention.— This leads me to ask what steps have been taken relative to the Site for one at the Mouth of Shanondoah?— I will pledge myself that there is not a spot in the United States w— combines more, or greater requisites for these, than that does.— considered as a place of immense strength against, & inaccesible by an enemy (although open to [underline: inland] navigation in all directions, as well crosswise as to the Shipping Port at the Federal City, & Water transportation to the Western Country) for its centrality among Furnaces & Forges,— for its inexhaustible supply of Water, having the whole River of Shanondoah as a resource,— and for the populous & plentiful country in which it lyes It is not suppose that a place of this importance, and which has already cost the United States several thousand dollars (to be possessed of the ground) has passed unnoticed,— but not having heard it mentioned in the progress of the discussions, or that any thing has been done on the premises since the purchase of it under the former act, has induced this enquiry; which you may answer, or not, as it suits your convenience, nor doubting but that you have matters of more importance to attend to, than the solution of my question.— The Demo's seem to be lifting up their heads again, according to M^r Bache. —They were a little crest fallen,— or one might say, thunder stricken— on the publication of the Dispatches from our Envoys; but the cont[ents] of them are now resolved into harmless trifles— less than was, or ought to have been expected from the misconduct of the Administration; [undecipherable: &] better to submit to such chastisement than to hazard greater evils by futile resentments.— So much for a little consultation among themselves.— I am always Your affectionate James M^cHenry, Esq^r G^o Washington [Abg 7 May] [James McHenry Esq Secretary of War Philadelphia] [seal]