[War Department / James McHenry // David Ames Esqr / Springfield / Massachusetts // John [undecipherable] / 28 May 1799 / S. [undecipherable] Clines] War Department 28^th May 1799 Sir The Secretary of the Treasury is of opinion that the services of Mr Orr of the Armoury at Springfield [would] be highly useful to the public in the proving, and inspection of small arms fabrica- :ted by contracts with private manufacturers I therefore request you to inform me whether the business of the armoury under your superin- :tendance would suffer by the absence of Mr Orr on such business, and whether there is any other person under your directions who could supply his place during his absence [undecipherable] I do not know how much of Mr Orr's time would be called for on the business mentioned, but suppose he would be so much employed as to have little to ap- :ply to the armoury at Springfield You will observe that at the same time I would not wish the armoury to suffer materially, by the abstraction of Mr Orr's services, yet I am extremely desirous to promote the fabrication of arms under the contracts formed with individuals I am Sir with respect Your most ob^t Serv^t James McHenry [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] David Ames Esq^r