[Secretary at War] Navy Dept 30^th June 1800 — D^r Sir Altho I appear a party to the contract with Lee and Potts, I really know little or nothing about the property. The whole negotiation was with McHenry. He was carrying it on & making experiments for months, before he laid the subject before the President. The President directed the Purchase to be made with [text cut off at edge] but when I entered on the business, it was contended by Potts and yielded by McHenry, that it had long been [strikethrough: understood] understood, that if the experiments answered, the Public was to buy either the smaller quantity of Property offered at 40 odd thousand dollars, or the larger quantity at 50 odd — I preferred the smaller quantity because it cost less money, and because I did not, & I could not from M^r. McHenry's documents, see that the larger quantity was necessary. I think before you make additional purchases it would be well to send Toussard, or some qualified Person, to examine and report. McHenry's information did not rest on Documents but on verbal Communications I believe. I know that I could understand so little of the subject, that if I had not conceived the Public bound, I should have been for delaying the purchase for more information. From what I could understand it appeared to me the ore was the desirable object for the Public. The furnace less so. The property now offered by Lee is connected with the Furnace, not the ore — W. Henderson a respectable man near George Town, put into my hands the papers herewith to be delivered to you. I have not read them, but know they relate to a Claim he has not part of Lee's Iron Bank. The Atty Genl satisfied M^r. McHenry I believe that the Claim was unfounded — Jam^t C B.S.