[Letters from the War Department. Dec^r 23. 1800. Samuel Dexter, Secretary at war.] [Dep^t. Dec^r 23 1800. on fortifications] [Answ^r Mr Griswold. & Janos of 2 [undecipherable]] [War department] War Department, 23 Dec^r 1800. Sir I am honored with your favor of yesterday. The amount thought necessary for fortifying ports & harbors has not heretofore been inserted in the annual estimate of expenditures; it was therefore omitted in the estimate for 1801. I presume that the deficiency of past appropriations is not equal to 100,000 Dollars, but the precise amount cannot be known. I think that to appropriate for that object Two Hundred Thousand Dollars in the whole would be sufficient for the ensuing years. I have the Honor to be Sir, Your very ob^d serv^t Sam^l Dexter Hon^l M^r Griswold.