Gentlemen, Philada. Octr. 1776

I recd. yrs. by Mr. David Gillispe and laid the same before Congress, who have Ordered the Sum of 5000 £ to paid you in full expectations of reaping the benefit of the Contract the Treasurer has paid the money to Mr. David Gillispe agreable to your desire in your Letter but it is very proper you should sign the inclosed receipt & send it as soon as may be. Mr. Gillispe says you intend to build only One Stack at the New place & expect to cast 32 pounders from it. I trust you will con­301sider well whether one hearth will hold Mettle enough in proper Order to cast so large a Gun with Certainty for the congress will depend much on having those large Cannon. I understood you intended to build two Stacks close together.

I am glad to hear you have Cast all the Frigate Guns & hope you will get them down as soon as possible.

Mr. Gillispe tells me you mean to blow out immediately. I am sorry you did not continue casting 12 pndrs. If you are not blown out when this meets you & can continue to cast 12 pndrs. you will much serve the cause & would have you keep on & let us know it & we will tell you how many. Wishing you Success I am yr. &c.

Dft. on verso of RTP to Samuel and Daniel Hughes, Aug. 24, 1776; followed by copy of receipt:

Recd. of Michael Hillegas Esqr. Treasurer to the United States of America Dollars & agreable to an Order of Congress of the 30th. of Septr. last to be paid in Cannon to the Congress according to our Contract with them or in failure thereof the same sum to be repaid them by the time mentioned in said Contract for the delivery of the last Cannon.

To Saml. & Danl. Hughes at Antietam Furnace Maryland. per Mr. Gillispe

Honored Sir, Lancaster october the 1rst 1776

I am favored with yours of the 25th ult. The Reasons I conceve why so litle hath Don in the Musquet Business are the following first the Prise of Rifles is so greatly advanced that the workmen find it their Interest to follow the makeing of Rifles Rather than Musquets. Plane Rifles which sold for £4 now sell from £510s to £6 Per Pies. The Price of Brass files &c. are greatly the Commisioner of our County gave £410s for the Musquets they had makeing when you were here and the workmen refuse to make any more at that Price or for less than £4.15.0. If you would be Pleasd to allow me to agree with the workmen as low as I can, I should then have it in my Power to get somthing Don and to Pay Each workman according to the goodness of his work for though they ought all to be Equilly good yet som workmen execute thier work beter than others. I will Produce the workmens Recepts for all the work when 302I setle with you and Charge 5 Per Ct. Commisions for my truble. Otherways I cannot get any thing Don of any value as the times are now, numbers of the gunsmiths apprentices being inlisted and out of ten shops that I had agreed with to mak Musquet Locks I have not been able to Procure more than four Doz. and so many of the workmen being oblig’d to march with the Militia, and all to set about Repareing before the Militia marchd. Be so good as to let me have your answer. I can ashure you I have Don Every thing in my Power to forward the Business by advancing of mony etc. Part of which I shall not be able to get back.

I am Sir your oblidgd Humle. Servt. William Henry

RC ; addressed: “The Honorable Robert Treat Paine Per Post Philadelphia”; endorsed.