[Page 394] the subject, I wish to know if any of the Men are discharged that the advances may be Stopp'd — adiu Sam Sir Your Most Ob^t Servant Samuel Hodgdon [M^r John Mackey] Philadelphia 4^th March 1799 Sir, By a letter received from Colonel Joseph Williams I am informed that on Monday the 25^th Ultimo the Buildings occupied by the Armourers, the filers & finishing Shop were discovered to be on fire in several places on the Roofs but by the timely and unremitting exertions of the Men at the Post and the inhabitants of Springfield the fire was extinguished with the loss of some part of the roof and a few Gun Stocks the number of which was not ascertained when the letter was wrote — The Buildings being of Wood and compactly situated exposes them necessarily to accidents by fire — to guard against it ravages, M^r Williams suggests for consideration the propriety of digging a few more Wells & Sinking two or three large Cisterns as reservoirs for Water near the works, and that a good Engine be provided and Stationed at his Post, these provisions aided by those which the Town afford he thinks will effectually secure the Buildings — C^o M^r Mackey has recommended the Same measures to be pursued for the preservation of the Public buildings under his care at Harpers Ferry in Virginia — Sam Sir Your Most Obedient Serv^t Samuel Hodgdon [James M^c Henry Esq]