[War Department [undecipherable]] Sir, It appearing by a letter lately received from the Naval Committee of Baltimore, that they are desirous to obtain your proposals in advance of the expense in which there is a probability of its presently involving them; and also that it would be by no means disagreeable to them to be relieved from the agreements they are bounds by, as its expects Major [undecipherable: probable reading: Frandis] [undecipherable] and it not being my wish to require a full fulfillment of the latter, if equal protection can be afforded to the harbor by a less expensive [undecipherable] you will therefore without delay report to me, whether by one or two Towers, or Block Houses, the Batteries could not be sufficiently secured against any attacks from the rear, and an estimate of the expense of erecting the same. I am Sir, With respect your obedient Serv^t Sgd James McHenry M^r Francis Baltimore 3^d June 1799 I herewith send you [undecipherable] of the 31^st [undecipherable] enclosing a Copy of your letter of the 25^th to M^r Francis, both of which were this day laid before the Committee. M^r Alexr and M^r George [undecipherable] have [undecipherable] in [undecipherable: probable reading: Philadelphia] and communicating their arrival have the honor of writing to you and will communicate to you fully the [undecipherable] of the Committee [undecipherable] as they are members on the subject of the works erecting at Fort [undecipherable]. I have the honor to be &c. Your ob^t your Rob Gilmor Ch M[undecipherable] James M Henry Esq^re &c &c War Department 15^th July 1799 In consequence of your communication through M^r Robert Gilman [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of a conference with Robert Oliver a member of the Naval Committee in Baltimore [undecipherable] at him I was informed of a representation of M^r Francis the Engineer and a due consideration of the circumstances which have attended the [undecipherable] of the fortification at [undecipherable: probable reading: Whetstone] [undecipherable: probable reading: Point] near Baltimore