[West Point Aug^t 1799 Geo. Fleming recommending [undecipherable] in the magazine] 12½ Major Sam^d Hodgson Philadelphia --- West Point August 2. 1799. Sir, Your favor of the 29 ultimo I received yesterday evening. The magazine here is so full of powder I do not think it would hold fifteen barrels more; and there is no other place here suitable to deposite powder in. It is free from the least dampness — I look upon it quite secure, and have no reason to suspect any designs against it. To prevent incendiaries from blowing it up with safety to their own lives, I took care to have fixed in the gorge behind the die of each air hole, in the new north wall I got built last summer, a thick copper plate punched full of very small holes, each hole not larger than to admit a small pea — and several years since I had similar copper plates nailed to the lining plank of the south wall of said magazine to prevent slow match &c. being introduced through the air holes. The magazine is not palisaded. I am with great esteem, Sir, Your most obed^t servant, Geo. Fleming. Major Sam^d Hodgson