for Philad^a March 6^th 1801 Conformably to directions received from the Department of War dated the 30^th of January last I have the honor to inform you that the Hospital Stores then ordered have been, but agreeably to the Directions and deposited with the Military Store keeper a great part of the Medicines and Instruments have been also obtained and delivered and Mr Yellarship Strong informs me that the whole will be compleated and ready for Transportation in the course of the ensuing week — Mr McLaws who in consequence of Mr McHenry's letter of the 29 of May last was allowed to make Cartouch Boxes so as to manufacture what leather he had then procured for the purpose provided it would not exceed the number of Blocks in his possession which were 7898 and to whom an advance of three thousand Dollars was made in July last in consequence of a letter from the then Secretary of War has delivered into the Military Stores nearly if not the whole of the above number — He now wishes permission to extend the number above nine hundred beyond the foregoing quantity having as he alleges cut out leather for so many more than were sufficient by mistake I informed him that I had no Authority to comply with his request but that I would lay it before the Head of the Department. Ought however to remark that there are a very considerable number of Cartouch Boxes on hand and by the changes made by successive commanders, old accoutrements are liable to become almost useless lumber and when in consequence of Mr McHenry's letter I called on Mr McLaws to ascertain the quantity of leather he had on