Sr/

The purport of this is to acquaint you that I have been at Col: Grubb's Furnace where I proved Two of their 12 lbrs with 8 lb of powder & two Shot, boath Stood, Mr Bustead had proved one of them with 12 lb of Powder & one Shot before my arivel. last Saturday I left their when they had 27 twelve pounders cast, the Majore part of which looks Extreemly well & cast very Smooth aqualety pecular to that Metel, ー An accident happened that they Brock the Gudgin of their water wheel or else they would had Several others ready, before I left it they cast a new gudgin So they will soon be able to get [a] boreing again & I endevored to prevail on the Cleark to get one made at some Forge which he promissed me he would, for I have but a poor oppinion of cast Iron for such, kinde of work. They have excessive hard work in boreing out their coers. I have told him Bustead of Mateirals to make them with So as they can be got out with the greatest ease which I make no doubt but he will try.

They go on with the greatest Spirit & I make no doubt but will soon accomplice their contract, the greatest fault in their cannon is they are very large being 17 3/8 Inches at the Touchole & 11¾ Inches at the Muzle & I soppose will weigh about 30 C, ー They requested me to apply to you for a resolve of congress for Liberty to employ a number of the prisoners of war (not exceeding twelve[)], which if you should obtain please Send it via Lancaster to be forwarded by Mathias Slough or Wm Henry to cornwall Furnace, working people are very scarce at present about the Furnaces'sー

I remain with much Esteem [&c.]

P S when I was in Philada last I saw some Double-headed Shot in the State-house yard the Barr's of which were large enough to over load any gun, they being 2½ or 3 Inches Square, And as Messrs Rutter & Potts have an Order to make Some for Congress I have herewith Sent you the Size of the Barr's &c: as I calculated them for Sd R: & Potts ー you'll see they are in a just Ratio with the Shot. that is they are 2½ Diametir: of the Shot long in the clear & 1/5 of a Diameter Squar ー The greatest length that ever was alowd was 3 Diameters ー I am &ca

D: Joy