You will have recieved Your Camera Obscura, which was sent from hence to Alexandria a few days ago, I understand, by Palmers Packet. It was opened at the Custom house, as was also the working drawings of a Seventy four of the latest improved British Construction, which I have found means to come at directly from the Navy office: had Mr. Smith treated me with that gentlemanly respect which I have experienced from every other secretary, & from the heads of Departments in every other Country I have been in, I should have been at some pains to have added copies of this, & of some other naval improvements of value, to those which I have already furnished him so thanklessly & so unprofitably: as it is, you know me too well to suppose me capable of wearing two faces for any interest whatever, & my interest & intercourse must cease alike till the Government has a head of Department there who feels the same sense that I do of the duties of a man of business, & the civilities which an useful Citizen has a right to expect from the servants of the Public.—General Dearborn informs me also (& with a concern which does him honor) that, unless I had taken my degrees as a student of the Military accademy I cannot be permitted to construct any military works, at even my own improved fortifications; though, I will venture to say, without my instructions & superintendance there is not a master in that same accademy who can construct such a work; &, so long as the Patent law is my protection, there is not a scholar in that school who shall construct a work of the kind under the pretext of any authority which offers an insult to the Soldier of 76 to the Cincinnati I am a member of, & equally to common sense & the spirit of the Government.

I have been successful, while to the Southward, in posessing myself of valuable information in the economy of our Coasts and harbours:—so soon as I arrive at Washington, from whence I have been somewhat delayed by sickness, I will endeavour to arrange such notes as I judge may be useful to you.

I am, in haste for the Post, Dr. Sir Yr. Obt. H St