Philadelphia 9^th August 1798 Sir, I have received your Letter of the 4^th instant covering a return of your Work for the Months of June and July — I thought all the Arms in the Store had been cleaned under a former order of so recent a date as to make the repetition useless — If that is not the case they must be set about immediately and compleated without a moments unnecessary delay as we depend on those arms being in perfect order to deliver on the most sudden call — With respect to the useless Gun Barrels, bayonets, and ramrods, you mention under your description they should be sold — but none of those articles that can possibly be brought into Public use are to be disposed of, we had rather buy than sell. If therefore they cannot be used more profitably for the Public they may be sold, and the Money arising from the sale will be credited to the Public in your next quarterly accounts — The Secretary of War is too unwell to be consulted on any business at present — of course you need not expect any communication from him until he gets better — I am Sir your Most Obed^t Servant Samuel Hodgdon Cap^t David Ames Philadelphia 9^th August 1798. Sir, The Secretary is at present unwell, before he was confined he expressed his desire to send from your Store One Thousand Muskets, and the same number of Cartouch Boxes to Baltimore to the address of Colonel John Stricker to replace a like number of each, loaned to the United States by the State of Maryland, and lost on the expedition against the Insurgents of this State in the fall of 94 — As soon as possible after you receive this letter I wish you to select and case up the above Arms and Cartouch Boxes from those you have in Store and forward them as above mentioned — In all cases we preserve the Charleville Muskets to keep up a uniformity in the Army as the Arms of that Manufactory are in general use — If any other muskets on hand, you may forward the number ordered — If you have brass mounted Guns [strikethrough: are known] forward them as far as they will go, and be particularly careful to send none but such as