only to send you what lies convenient to the southern boundary, in which neighborhood the crops have been much abridged by a flood in Roanoke.  We have no rice.  Rum and other spirits, we can furnish to a greater amount than you require, as soon as our wagons are in readiness, and shall be glad to commute into that article some others which we have not, particularly sugar, coffee, and salt.  The vinegar is provided.  Colonel Finnie promised to furnish to Colonel Muter, a list of the shades, hoes, &c. which could be furnished from the Continental stores.  This list has never yet come to hand.  It is believed the Continental stores here will fall little short of your requisition, except in the article of axes, which our shops are proceeding on.  Your information of September 24th, as to the quality of the axes, has been notified to the workmen, and will, I hope, have a proper effect on those made hereafter.  Application has been made to the courts, to have the bridges put in a proper state, which they have promised to do.  We are endeavoring again to collect wagons.  About twenty are nearly finished at this place.  We employed, about three weeks ago, agents to purchase, in the western counties, a hundred wagons and teams.  Till these can be got, it will be impossible to furnish any thing from this place.  I am exceedingly pleased to hear of your regulation for stopping our wagons at Roanoke.  This will put it in our power to repair and replace them, to calculate their returns, provide loads, and will be a great encouragement to increase their number, if possible, as their departure hence will no longer produce the idea of a final adieu to them.

Colonel Senf arrived here the evening before the last.  He was employed yesterday and to-day, in copying some actual and accurate surveys, which we had had made of the country round about Portsmouth, as far as Cape Henry to the eastward, Nansemond river to the westward, the Dismal Swamp to the southward, and northwardly, the line of country from Portsmouth by Hampton and York to Williamsburg, and including the vicinities of these three last posts.  This will leave him nothing to do, but to take drawings of particular places, and the soundings of such waters as he thinks material.  He will proceed on this business to-morrow, with a letter to General Nelson, and powers to call for the attendance of a proper vessel.

I suppose that your drafts in favor of the quarter-master, if attended with sixty days’ grace, may be complied with to a certain amount.  We will certainly use our best endeavors to answer them.  I have only to desire that they may be made payable to the quarter-master alone, and not to the bearer.  This is to prevent the mortification of seeing an unapprized individual taken in by an assignment of them, as if they were ready money.  Your letter to Colonel Finnie will go to Williamsburg immediately.  Those to Congress, with a copy of the papers enclosed to me, went yesterday by express.  I will take order as to the bacon