[Docket on address panel: [undecipherable] H. Lee — 17 March 1800] William [undecipherable] Why must you suffer yourself [undecipherable: for a moment?] to apprehend that I do not mean [strikethrough: b—] [undecipherable] every [undecipherable] the business alluded to which is [the] very [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I am fully satisfied that [undecipherable] are [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that I [undecipherable] believe [undecipherable] [undecipherable], and being so near our [undecipherable] armory at Harpers ferry ought to belong exclusively to the U.S. There is however a course which must be undeviatingly pursued by a public officer in [strikethrough: such a case] a case like the present. He must, before he can advance money [strikethrough: — enter into a condolance — can he] have it ascertained by undeniable experiments, that the ore is every thing which is, wanted, and then, that there are no incumbrances which ought to stand in the way of a purchase. you must take care to give satisfaction respecting the latter and I will facilitate by every means in my power the conclusion of the experiments [undecipherable] yours truly [undecipherable] 17 March 1800 [Verso: administrative endorsements — largely undecipherable]