Philadelphia 24^th August 1797 Sir, I have received your letter of the 25^th inst. & have attentively considered it. The public Buildings at Carlisle tho commodious in themselves and locally considered well situated, are not calculated for our present laboratory purposes. When they were erected the Enemy was in our country, and in Possession of Philadelphia, and many other of our most important Towns on the Sea Coast, and had the means for sudden visits to any other that on any account became an object of destruction. Thus circumstanced Inland situations best calculated to answer the wants of our Armies were sought for and these buildings were erected. It has been suggested, that Congress mean to erect 3 grand Arsenals with Magazines calculated on a scale for making & safely keeping a supply of Military Stores equal to the whole force of the United States. If this is really contemplated, it is natural to suppose they will be placed, in Massachusetts Pennsylvania & Virginia, two of them are actually in operation Viz^t Springfield & Potowma — & the question is whether Carlisle is the most suitable situation in Pennsylvania for the 3^d. this question has on several occasions been considered & as often concluded, it was not, several places on the Delaware above the falls have been preferred, particularly the high ground, on the place now called Morrisville. The Buildings at Carlisle being sufficiently extensive & commodious & being far advanced on the road to Pittsburgh where most of our supplies have hitherto been sent, pleads strongly in favour of the place, but the continual expence & some degree of uncertainty of the transportation determines in my mind against it. Regret that my proposition for commencing the laboratory preparations at Germantown was overruled, I would have procured the buildings to cover the men, and carry on the work with the Chymey Machines & Kittle furs, for castings at the rate of 295— per Annum, but contiguous to our Magazine; but the time is passed, the buildings being now occupied, for other purposes, the state of our Magazine will by no means admit our waiting for laboratory supplies until buildings can be erected, to make them in some suitable plan ought to be found, immediately that at all events we may secure a supply of Musket Ammunition & the most urgent wants for Field Pieces. While this is doing the buildings may be erected at such place as may be agreed on, for I know not heard, that any place is yet provided for the purpose. I am aware that other arguments for and against Carlisle may be urged, but I fear I have already exhausted your patience, shall therefore submit the foregoing observations to your consideration & conclude with assuring you that, I am Very Sincerely, Your most Obedient Servant, Samuel Hodgdon James McHenry Esq^r Secretary of War,