Sir/

Since my arrive1 here I have been at Mr Birds Furnace to know how they were like to Succeed in casting their contract of cannon, and find Mr Bird hath Sold one of his Teams of horses & Ordered the Manneger to cast the few Moulds they had made & no more, and put the furnace out of Blast, and then bore the remainder of the guns. They have cast in all 60 ー 12 pounders 19 ー 9 pounders & 17 ー 4 pounders, That is

13-12 lbrs		proved	7-12		proved	38-12 lb			2-12 lbrs		To
8-9    Do		& sent	2-9		& not	8-9  Do		not	1-9   Do		cast
		to			yet sent			bored			&
7-4    Do		Philada	4-4		down	5-4  Do			1-4   Do		Bore

By which you'll see he will fall vastly Short of the compt he was to cast. I do not know the Number of Nine Pdrs the Frigate is to carry but Suppose you'll not have enough by 5 or 7. If you want a few 12 & 9 cast Messrs Rutter & Potts have don with their contract with the council of Safty and are at lesure to do it if you can agree with them. Mr Samuel Potts will be in Philada in a day or two ー As they intend to put their Furnace out of Blast in 10 or 15 day they will not cast them without you give them enough Shot to keep the Furnace going that is to use all the Metal She make ー They have cast some prity nice 9 pdrs about two Inches longer than Birds one of which you may See on Capt Andrew Caldwells warff. If you cannot agree with them You nlay prevail with the council of Safty to let Mr Old cast what few 12, 9, & 4 pounders you may want I am almost sure he will do it, he has cast some very neat 3 & 4 Pd[r]s for Mr Nathl Tyson of virginia Some of which will be in Town this week I shall go to Mr Grubbs to morrow & as soon as I have used what powder they have there shall return to these Furnaces & If you have sott either of them to worke shall prepare Draufts for them &ca In the Interim I remain [&c.]