[Duplicate] N° 38. London May 24. 1799. Dear Sir, Inclosed I send you copies of a letter that I lately received from Lord Grenville and of my answer, respecting a Quantity of military Stores removed from St. Domingo to Jamaica, of which this Government, in order to avoid the Expense of their removal from Jamaica where they are not wanted, are desirous of selling to us. — I have sent to the Ordnance Office to be informed whether the articles are entirely English or, as is the case of the muskets, a mixture of french and English. — The answer shall likewise be enclosed. With perfect Respect & Esteem I have the honor to be Dear Sir, Y^r O'bedt faithful Serv^t Rufus King. [Sec^y of State &c &c] [Copy] L^d Grenville to M^r. King. Downing Street May 21. 1799. Sir, A considerable proportion of Ordnance Stores, both for Field & Garrison Service, which was removed from St. Domingo at the evacuation of the British Possessions in that Island, being now at Jamaica, where they are not required for the King's service, it has occurred to his Majesty's Government that they might be considered as a valuable acquisition by the United States. Under this impression I have directed a Specific Return of those Stores to be prepared, which I have now the honor to enclose you, and if the American Government should be desirous of obtaining them, a fair valuation might be fixed upon them by proper persons respectively appointed for that Purpose by his Majesty's Government & that of the United States. I have the honor to be &c &c Grenville Abstract Return of Ordnance ammunition and Stores embarked at the Evacuation of Cape Nicholas Mole, St. Domingo, for the Island of Jamaica, on the 30 Sept. 1798. [Guns with Carriages.] N° 24 Pb° { Iron . . . . 7 { Brass . . . 5. 18 Pb°. Iron . . . . 4. 12 Pb° { Iron . . . . 9 { Brass . . . 8. 8 Pb°. Iron . . . . 3. 6 Pb°. Brass . . . 21. 4 Pb° { Iron . . . 34. { Brass . . . 13. 3 Pb°. Brass . . . 4. 2 Pb°. Brass . . . 3. ½ Pb°. swivels Brass . . 2. [Mortars with beds.] 13 Inch { Iron . . . . 1 { Brass . . . 2. 10 Inch Iron . . . - 2. 8 Inch Iron . . . . 2. 5½ Inch Brass . . . 3. [Howitzers with Carriages] { 8 inch Brass . . . . 4. { 5½ inch Brass . . . 7. [nil] Carronades, Iron 8 Pound. . . 4 with a large assortment of ammunition and Stores proper for each Description of Ordnance. Muskets { English . . . 1437. { French . . . 1764. Carbines . . . . 225. Pistols . . . . 292. Swords for { Cavalry . . . 136 { Infantry . . . 85. Powder { Whole barrels . . . 954. { half barrels . . . 567. And a variety of other articles of Ordnance Stores, all represented to be in a serviceable Condition. Office of Ordnance } Westr. 16. May 1799.} [Copy] M^r. King to Lord Grenville. Great Cumberland Place 24 May 99. My Lord, I have had the honor to receive y^r Lordship's letter of the 21 inst. I will immediately transmit a copy of it to the Amerⁿ Gov^t. It is not in my power to express any decisive opinion upon the subject, but I think it by no means improbable that we may be desirous to become Purchasers of at least some part of the Stores in question. If the Governor or some other Person in Jamaica is authorised on your part to treat with the Agent we may send there, the Delays of a Correspondence between Philad^a and London will be avoided. With perfect Respect &c &c R. King. L^d Grenville. [Copy] M^r. Crew to M^r. King. M^r. Crew presents his Compliments to M^r. King and in answer to the Enquiry contained in his Note dated yesterday, has the honor to acquaint M^r. King, that the articles of Ordnance Stores which have been removed from St. Domingo to Jamaica are composed partly of English manufacture & partly of foreign Construction. — M^r. Crew is unable to find a Specification of those articles which are of foreign make or of those which were furnished from England; but he can say with certainty that the light ½ pounder brass guns are of English manufacture. Office of Ordnance Westm^r. May 25. 1799.