[The Secretary of War — [undecipherable]] T. D. January 29^th 1799 At the request of Mess.^rs Lake & Stiller I do myself the honor of submitting the following statement [strikethrough: for] in relation to my [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] agreement with them for your consideration therein. I consider the public as bound in good faith to fulfill certain engagements which I entered into with Mess.^rs Lake & Stiller upon condition that they would erect & maintain works capable of producing Cannon of a quantity suitable for the public Service. The proposals dated June 18^th 1798, of which I enclose a Copy are the latest and most reduced which I was able to obtain and were substantially agreed to by me — Instead however of engaging to receive a certain [underline: number] of Cannon of [underline: particular descriptions], my understanding was, that the public were to receive such Cannon as should be [underline: required] to the [underline: amount] of fifty thousand dollars value in the whole; the prices to be one hundred & fifty dollars p^r ton for twelve pounders, or a lesser size — and if Cannon above twelve pounders were required, the price to be fifty pounds Pennsylvania Currency per Ton. It was expected however that Mess.^rs Lake & Stiller would most probably be employed in casting Cannon of the smaller size; the Works of Salisbury being prepared for those of a larger Calibre. I consider myself equally engaged to M^r Foxall and the other proprietors of Eagle Furnace as to Mess.^rs Lake & Stiller — M^r Watson naval agent at New York, has on my behalf had communications with the Owners of Salisbury Furnace, and will be able to inform you precisely of the expectations which have been [undecipherable] in that quarter. Pardon the haste in the Your respectfully [undecipherable] [undecipherable signature] The Secretary of War