War Department, 31^st of May 1800 — Sir, I have received your Letters, dated the 7^th and 28^th of September, and the 26^th of February last. — I am sorry [strikethrough: to] inform you, That the two [strikethrough: found] Shipments of incombustible Cartridge Paper - made at London, on account of the United States - have been received by this Department. The first Shipment amounting to £160-11-[6] came duly to hand — But of the arrival of the second Shipment in this Country at all — I never had information before the 25^th of last month April — from a M^r Nathaniel Lawrence of New York — informing me — That having received a letter from Mess^rs [strikethrough: Grovesnor] Grosvenor, Charter and Grosvenor of London — advising That they had consigned to me, 61 reams of Paper, per The Ship May, Cap^t Sherry — and were fearful I had not received it — That he had enquired at the Custom House at New York — and found The Paper had been sold at Auction, having lain longer than the time allowed, and would apply for the proceeds, and remit them to The Shippers. After the receipt of M^r Lawrence's letter — I immediately wrote to M^r Sands the Collector of the Customs — for a Statement of the circumstances — relative to this Paper — His answer is dated the 1^st Inst — and advises that the Paper was imported into [strikethrough: his] his District in the Month of February 1799 — in The Ship May, Sherry Master, from London — consigned on the Manifest to Order — That the Captain of the Ship — he is informed by the owner, did not know, who shipped the Paper, nor who it was for. That having lain longer in the Custom House [undecipherable] unclaimed than the law allows — it was at length sold at public Auction, for payment of the Duties — These are disagreeable facts to detail respecting an article — I considered of importance to be secured in the possession of the United States — and had I received any intimation of the arrival of — should have taken measures to secure. This day closes my Official duties as Secretary of War. — I retire to Baltimore Town, Maryland — [strikethrough: to] where I shall esteem myself honoured, to receive any future communications from you in a private capacity — with sincere wishes for your health and prosperity, — I have the honor to be — with [strikethrough: very sincere] esteem & regards D^r Your most Ob^t — [31 May 1800] His Exc^y R King.