Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3
At my arrivel here I applyed to Messrs. Rutter & Potts to know if they would undertake to make 16 Nine Pounders or 26 Twelve Pounders. 305They after a days deliberation to know if could collect their workmen (that were discharged previous to their going out of Blast) they could not be got to worke nor the Boerers be prevailed on to stay to do their part of the worke, and their Stock of coals being almost blowen out & wanting to get a new harth in before winter so as to be ready to put her in Blast early in the Spring. These & Sundry other reasons enduced them to decline either of the above jobbs. They say that they are sorry they can’t comply with the request, but if in future you should have any demands of the like, let them know it early & it shall be punctualy complyed with. Reading-furnace is much in want of water and cannot get Metal enough for a twelve pounder. However they will endevour to get them all cast, first the 9 lbr. for counciel of Safty by that time will have plenty of water to cast your 12 lbr. And Mr. Old thinks he shall be able to get them down by the latter end of Nov:ber. If Mr. Old should not get them in time hear & at warwick is Enough 12 lbr. Proved which will soon be sent down belonging to counciel of Safty, which you may Borrow. I have wrote Mr. Towers for Powder to try Mr. Birds guns with at my return from Grubbs which will be the begining of next week. In the Interim I remain with much Esteem your Hble. Servt.
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
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).