Philadelphia 28^th March 1799. Sir, If I understood you correctly, you stated to me the other evening that you knew nothing of the intention to deposit the Nitre, belonging to the public in the Stores belonging to your firm at Frankford, until two or more Weeks after it was man that the deposite was the Work of the Surveyor and your Joseph Miur. that as soon as you was acquainted with the circumstance, you remonstrated with the Surveyor against the measure, declaring that in your Opinion it was an improper place to make a deposite in, and urged in support of your opinion, that such had been your apprehensions of danger to the other buildings, in case of accident to the Mill, that you had never stored your own Salt Petre in any of the contiguous buildings. that the Surveyor gave as a reason for placing the Nitre at that place, the conveniency of the situation, as he intended to have the whole mass into Powder at your Mill, and that neither he nor Miuer apprehended the least [underline: danger] for the deposite — that the Nitre remained in the Store until the last of Miuer's operations with the Powder Mill — that you know it was there more than two years after the deposite — and believe it remained so, until informed to the contrary by the Surveyor. The precise time when the Salt Petre was taken by Miuer, or how it was disposed of by him is unknown to you. If the foregoing is the state of facts you mean to communicate to me, when we tether together on the subject, be pleased to repeat them to me, to be used as occasion may require. yours &c. M^r Israel Whelen. — Samuel Hodgdon.