[Copy] Copy of the Instruction given by the Secretary of War to [undecipherable] Lewis [undecipherable] Janu[ary] [undecipherable], 1799. Sir In the Prosecution of the duties assi[gn]ed you in my letters dated the 9^th August, and 20^th [Octo]ber ultimo — 1^st You will examine with all possible [Att]ention the Points and Islands [up]on which Works have been erected, for the [Annoyance of Sh]ipping and the [defence] of the Harbour and [approaches] by Water to the [Town] of Newport. 2^nd You will weigh maturely, and state precisely, their seve[ral] Defects and Advantages, and propose such Works only to be undertaken as shall appear indispensible, and [with] which a small number of Men may be competent to [de]fend against, or annoy from, an Enemy, to Effect; and in doing this you will keep principally in View such [Sites] and [Defences] only, as promise to be most serviceable in pre[venting] Stations from being taken and kept near the City of Newport, from which an Enemy could cannonade and bombard it to Advantage. 3^rd You will calculate the Lines and Angles of the Plans, Profiles, &c in Order to the [Form]ation [of a just] Opinion of the Solidity, Thickness, &c of the [Parapet and] Work, and of the whole and exhibit a detailed Statement of the [Quantity] and [Price] of the different Materials, and the [Cost of Workmanship and] Labour of every Kind, with [every] [undecipherable] [Plans] and Estimates must be explained with as much Clearness and Plainness as possible, so that the Persons who may undertake any of the Work may find no Difficulty in understanding what is to be done. 4^th You will review [Tom]many Hill in particular and the Island of Newport in general, so as to enable you to determine [what] practical Advantage can be derived from the [Sit]uation of the said Hill, (the [rest of] the Island [being] supposed without other [Works for] its Protection) on the Batteries in the Harbour already existing, shall be relied [on] as proposed. [2^d] [Whether] a Fort on [Tom]many Hill will be [most use]ful in the defence of the Island, connected with such [other Works] on the [Island] as may be judged effectual to [its end] after the Harbour Batteries shall have been subdued [repaired and made] — You will be clear and explicit in your Observations and Opinions on these Points, and will present Plans and Estimates. 5^th You will state the Number of Men and Cannon necessary to the defence of each Work. 6^th It will be proper that you should take the first Opportunity to visit Marblehead, and execute the Object expressed in my letter of the 20^th October ultimo. 7^th Portland is also to be visited, the Works examined, their Defects reported, and such Alterations proposed, for the further Security of that Harbour as may appear indispensible. 8^th It being important to place the Fortifications for the defence of the Harbour of Boston in a respectable State, you will make a Survey of the existing Works, and report such Repairs or Additions to them, as may be thought necessary [to] its Security. You will give [an esti]mate of the Additions. It is foreseen, that to execute this Trust will keep you in Towns, where you must unavoidably incur a greater Expense than if you was in Garrison, on field Duty with your Regiment; that it necessarily requires Journeys to be made, and by [undecipherable] the Command of a Post [undecipherable] Rations you would be entitled to receive. [You] should not overlook the Circum[stances] mentioned, and that an Officer should not be compelled to waste his own Means, whilst employed in extra Service of so important a Kind. [You] will therefore be allowed for yourself and [undecipherable] at the rate of two Dollars and twenty five Cents per Diem, whilst employed on this Service, and remaining at Rhode Island, Marblehead, Portland, or Boston, and at the Rate [of the] travelling Expenses established by the Regulations bearing Date the 19^th Day of [Novem]ber 1798; that is, at the rate of two Dollars for every forty Miles when the Distance does not exceed two hundred, and at the same Rate for every thirty Miles [undecipherable] above two hundred and not exceeding three hundred and fifty. Major Lewis [Howard] Signed James McHenry of Reg[imen]t Art[illery] and Engineers. [6368]