Baltimore 6^th May 1799 Sir, We have not had the honor of addressing you since the 9^th April, when we communicated our opinion that a sum of money considerably exceeding the original estimate of Major Ansard would be required to complete the projected plan of a Fortification for the defence of our Harbor. Your answer of 15^th April gives us no expectation that a further appropriation of the public funds to this object is to take place; which combined with other considerations has excited in our minds serious apprehensions respecting the accomplishment of a work essential to the protection and safety of our City. We therefore think it necessary to have a full explanation and perfect understanding with you on this important subject. The safety and defence of a City of the commercial importance of Baltimore, we were satisfied could not be a matter of indifference to the Legislative & Executive authority of our Country. We saw with pleasure an Officer of rank and as we understood of great professional skill appointed to view the existing works at Fort McHenry and instructed to report the additional work absolutely indispensible to our protection. The plan and estimate were submitted to our consideration, and the plan was approved by persons more skilled in Fortifications than we were, but the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] funds would exceed the appropriation announced by you in a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] as all that would be applied to this object. In this situation and under a persuasion that we could rely on the cooperation, and patriotism, and zeal of our fellow Citizens, we resolved to encourage an undertaking on which our safety and essentially to depend. Major Ansard stated the whole sum necessary for the purchase of a proper quantity of land and the erection and completion of the new work to be . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $39963.44 The sum allotted to these objects was . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20000— The difference $10963.44 was represented as the whole and only amount that would be required to give us a Fort equal in all respects to our protection against a sudden attack of Enemies Ships of War, a coup de Main from a small land force. The advantage was great and interesting to every Citizen, and the voluntary contributions by a large amount for building and equipping Ships of War had been recently made; we did not hesitate to declare by a writing annexed to Major Ansard's plan and estimate, and referring thereto that should the sum to be appropriated not prove sufficient the balance would be made up by the Citizens either in labor or money; meaning the above stated sum of $10963.44— By your letter of 3^rd August 1798 you transferred to us the honor to execute and complete the works agreeably to Major Ansard's plan. We appointed with cheerfulness and the lands purchased the work commenced and considerable progress made before the severity of the winter interrupted our labors. On the 25^th March Mr Foncin was appointed to superintend the erection of these works on applying the plan of Major Ansard to the grounds he pronounced it insufficient and that he could not without hazarding his professional character carry it into execution. This declaration you will readily conceive greatly embarrassed us as we are accidentally implicated in the business; our original institution was for the purpose of managing the subscriptions for building Ships of War only. The erection of a Fort being a part of the system of defence contemplated by the Government and deemed indispensible by ourselves we were not reluctant to extend our views also to this object, tho' not specially nominated to it by our fellow Citizens. The judgment and skill of Major Ansard were relied on by us. The practicability, and safety of his plan and the accuracy of his Estimate, were not doubted and it was on these principles we accepted the trust confided to us by You. But if this plan proved either impracticable or constructively deficient as to require alterations involving an expense beyond the former estimate, it cannot be supposed we are committed, either to pursue the work, or to supply the additional funds; and we trust to your candor and justice for the support of this construction of our duty. M^r Foncin has submitted to us the plan of the works which he deems indispensible to our protection, we have great confidence in his judgment, and should with pleasure cooperate with him in the execution, but when we are persuaded that the public money remaining in our hands, and the sums to be drawn from our Citizens by voluntary contribution will not be adequate to the completion we forbear to sanction it by any act binding on ourselves or our fellow Citizens. Congress or the Executive, has allotted for the whole work $21000. We have already expended in the purchase of the lands, the erection of the lower Battery and the purchase of materials about $1000, the materials remaining are valued at $400 M^r Foncin's estimate is $39933.34. If his plan is to be executed, and private contributions are relied on as the funds, it will be necessary on the most favorable calculation to be made to raise $32000 instead of $10963.44 for which we are disposed to pledge our fellow Citizens. In giving this elucidation of the motives of our conduct and of our present embarrassed situation we wish to be understood as not desiring to withdraw from our original stipulations. To procure an effectual protection, and permanent works, we still entertain the opinion that our fellow Citizens will without hesitation contribute the sum for which we meant to pledge them. But we cannot be responsible for a larger amount however desirable the object to be attained. The unequal operation and oppressive nature of all voluntary contributions are not unknown to you and this City in a particular manner has felt their weight and inconvenience. As to our personal services, we will freely devote them to the public good in superintending the execution and œconomy of the works the Government will think for the protection of our City, as long as required and we hope the rank we hold in the scale of commercial Towns under the protection of the general Government, and the importance to be attached to us in the view of its fiscal arrangements, will procure to us from the public Treasury, a sum in aid of the proposed private contribution, commensurate with the great object to be secured. We shall proceed on the work of the lower Battery until completed which we hope will be completed in a few days. The erection of a [undecipherable] in every event is immediately necessary, and we shall order it, unless [undecipherable] think it proper to be delayed until Your further sentiments with respect to the Fort are ascertained. We annex a Copy of M^r Foncin's Estimate and remain with most respect. Sir The hon^ble Your most obedient humble serv^ts James McHenry } Sec^y of War } Sign^d Rob^t Gilmor Ch. &c An Estimate of the expence for the construction of a Fort to be erected at Whetstone Point near Baltimore. Stone. for the Foundation 800 } for the wall of the Rampart 2800 } 3700 for the counterforts or Buttresses 600 } at 20 shill. ₱ Perch 9866.67 } 7400 . . . bushels of lime @ 2/6 2466.67 } 16958.34 Sand 925.— } Masons work at the rate of $1 ₱ perch 3700.— } Bricks 602,000 Bricks for the wall @ $6½ 3900.— } 1800 bushels of lime 600.— } 6600.— Sand. 300. } Masons work at the rate of $3 for thousand bricks 1800.— } Earth by the cubical toise Solid of the Parapet 560 } Solid under the Parapet 1600 } Solid of the Banquette 120 } 4140 Solid of the Terreplein 1560 } from the Foundations 300 } at $2 per cubic toise 8280.— Powder Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1600.— Cistern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500.— all the buildings for the avenue, Off. ward & all darmen in Brick . . 6000.— $39933.34