(B.) *Extract of a letter from the Secretary of War, to the honourable, Samuel Sewall, Chairman of the Committee of Defence, &c.— dated* *War-Department, 28^th June, 1798.* " 3d. THE act providing for raising and organizing a corps of artillerists and engineers, and the act to provide an additional regiment of the same, both enjoin the procurement, at the public expence, of all necessary books, instruments, and apparatus, for the benefit of the said respective regiments. " The Secretary, without designing to derogate from the merits of the officers appointed to the corps established by the acts cited, feels it his duty to suggest, that other, and supplementary means of instruction, to the books and instruments to be provided, appear to be absolutely indispensable to enable them to acquire a due degree of knowledge in the objects of their corps. It is certain, that the best faculties and inclinations for the arts and sciences cannot be unfolded and applied to useful purposes, when proper encouragement and assistance have been denied or neglected. " The art of fortification is connected with so many others, is of such extent, and its operations dependent on, and affected by, circumstances so infinitely varied, that it is impossible any man can be rendered master of it by experience alone. Besides the knowledge acquired by experience is often the result of our own faults, and acquired by a heavy, and it may be, in this art, disastrous expence to the public. " It is certainly to be wished, that more attention had been paid to this subject, and that past recommendations had found a favorable access to the ear of Congress. " If the present moment does not admit of carrying into effect all that is desirable, and ought, under different circumstances to be done, to create a body of qualified and scientific engineers, it may, notwithstanding, be adviseable to advance towards this point by such measures as are compatible with our present situation. " The knowledge of certain arts and sciences is absolutely necessary to the artillerist and engineer; such are arithmetic, geometry, mechanics, hydraulics, and designing. " Without a knowledge of arithmetic, an officer cannot calculate the expence incurred, or to be incurred on any work, or any subject whatever. " Without that of geometry, he cannot form a just plan or chart, regulate the design of a fortification, with its lines and angles, trace it upon the ground it is to occupy, nor estimate and measure the solidity, and surface of its several parts. " Without that of mechanics, he will not be able to appreciate the proportion of the machines used in war, the dimensions of carriages for artillery, nor to augment or diminish the force of the several kinds of machines, when it may be necessary. " Without that of designing, he will not have it in his power, to give plans and profiles of works, nor to exhibit the topography of the environs of a work, or any part of a country. " Without that of hydraulics, he will not be qualified to conduct water from one place to another, or to sustain and elevate it when there may be a necessity in sieges, or other military operations, for so doing. " It is therefore submitted, whether provision ought not to be made for the employment of three or four teachers of the enumerated sciences, to be attached generally to the two corps of artillerists and engineers, and obligated to give instructions and lessons, at such times, places, and under such regulations, as the President may direct. " The employment of teachers would give the intended effect to the provision of the laws, for the appointment of two cadets to each company. It was supposed, that these cadets would form a nursery, from which, qualified officers might be drawn to fill vacancies, &c. but I must occur, that without proper masters to teach them the sciences necessary to the engineer and artillerist, this nursery can produce no valuable plants. " It is also submitted, whether it might not be proper to augment the pay of cadets to nine dollars per month, with two rations.— This would excite their emulation, give them a consideration above Sergeants, and enable them to appear in a more respectable dress. " It is with infinite regret the Secretary is obliged to mention, that the ordnance of our country is by no means in a situation to command respect. That part of it was collected during a season of difficulty and necessity, from different countries, and consequently the guns are many of them, essentially defective, and those of the same class differ in length, weight and caliber. The variance in these particulars occasions much trouble and inconvenience, in providing appropriate ammunition, flores, apparatus and carriages, besides subjecting the military service to injurious delays, and the fatal consequences which might result from ammunition and implements being supplied, which in time of need will be found not adapted to the piece. " As there is no established standard, it has also happened, from a defect of knowledge in our founders, or some other cause, that most of the cannon that have been cast within, or on account of the United States, are defective in very essential points, and exhibit varieties in those cast at the same furnace, and of the same class, with those procured from abroad. " It is important that some arrangement should be immediately adopted, calculated to give efficacy to a proper system, and correct these evils. It is not enough that the President determine upon the size, weight, dimensions, and calibers of the different kinds of cannon, either to be made, or imported into the United States, for their use, unless an *inspector of artillery* can be appointed, to see that all regulations appertaining to the ordnance department, be executed and observed with exactitude. " We cannot presume that contracts, however carefully made, and conditioned, or even a national foundry, will produce cannon conformable to a given specific standard for each class, so long as the United States are without an officer of skill to inspect, and receive, or reject them. " I cannot conceive any appointment more necessary to our military undertakings, and indeed more than an *inspector of artillery*, and I must flatter myself that the committee will feel as I do, upon this occasion. " They will not, I am persuaded, imagine that it can be possible for a Secretary of War, to discharge the duties of his appointment, and at the same time, to visit founderies, examine all kinds of ordnance, direct the dimensions of gun carriages and implements, order the proper moulds for casting shot, shells, &c. review and decide upon the qualities of every different production, and point out the means of remedying existing defects, and generally perform all the other duties attached to the office of inspector of artillery. " The Secretary indulges the hope, that the committee will recommend, and the wisdom of Congress think proper, to create in the Department of War, the office of inspector of artillery, with a salary adequate to its nature and importance, and calculated to obtain a person qualified to fill it: On this important head he takes leave to mention, that other countries owe the excellence of their ordnance to the establishment of such an officer, and that in England particularly, and at a late day, the appointment of a scientific and experienced inspector, has given a perfection to their ordnance never before known."