Sir, New Haven Octobr. 15th 1776

In Answer to yours of the 21st Ultmo. with Respect to the Cannon Foundery att Salisbury in this state; have to Inform you that this furnace has been in Use for the Casting of pig Iron &c. for many years past. When first set up it was surrounded with large quantity of wood, yet by the Land round about being of a good soil and much Cleard up for Use and the great Consumption by the furnace it is much Exhausted and now become very Scarce & dear, and we shall soon be Oblidged to goe 8 or 10 miles for Coal.

This Furnace was last the property of one Mr. Smith now Absconded & gone to England leaving the Furnace in good Order. This State took it 306up last spring for the purpose of Casting Cannon. The Ore is extreemly good perhaps no better in America and in great plenty. We have had great Success in our Opperations & have Cast to the Number of about 120 Cannon from six to 18 pounders about 50 Swivel beside a large quantity of Shot the 12 pounders wt. 23 or 24 hundred. They are short & fit only for Ship Cannon. They will bear the highest proof, have all been tried by double quantity of powder & Shot. We mean to persue the Casting of Cannon to the Utmost of our power and are in hopes of ariving to 24 pounders, tho it will be expensive & the Cannon turn out dear by reason of the Scarcity of Wood. Tho we Imagine they are of the best quality & proof, we find it will by no means answer to build another Stack at that place as the Water will now but just Answer and must be Content to make the best of the Works we now have there, which we shall persue with the greatest Attention. There may possibly be some Other place not far distant and where Wood is much more plenty which may Answer to Erect Works for the largest Cannon. Shall make further enquiry and let you know as soon as I am properly Informed.

We have supplied Mr. Dean with the full Compliment of Cannon for the Continental Ship built on Connecticut River.1 Am Sir With great Truth and Regard Your Obedt. humble Servant

Jonth. Trumbull

RC ; addressed: “On the Service of the United States of America To The Honble; Robert Treat Payne Esquire Representative from the State of the Massachusets Bay in the General Congress Philadelphia State of Connecticut Jonth; Trumbull”; endorsed.

1.

The Continental frigate Trumbull was built at Chatham, Conn., under the supervision of Barnabas Deane. It was launched on Sept. 5, 1776 (Naval Documents of the American Revolution, 6:707).