[Sept 15^th 1800 Navy Dept respecting Salt Petre Lane & Decatur [undecipherable] Israel Whelen Esquire Navy Agent Philadelphia [undecipherable: Storekeeper?]] Navy department 13^th Sep. 1800 Sir I have the honor to enclose an order from the Secretary of War on the Superintendant of Stores for Twenty tons of Salt Petre for the use of this department, to be disposed of in the contract for manufacturing powder with Mess^rs Lane and Decatur, by mixing it with the Salt Petre which is on hand, or otherwise, as you shall find expedient to enable those Gentle-men to make the powder of the Strength required by the contract For the Secretary of the Navy I have the honor to be respectfully, Sir y^r. mo. ob^t. [undecipherable: H. Thomas?] Israel Whelen Esq^r Navy Agent Philadelphia