The inclosed letter, from it’s good intentions, merits a suitable reply from me, but not being a judge of the importance of the drawings, & of course of the expressions of thankfulness, they will justify, I must ask the favor of you to have them considered, & let me know whether they offer any thing new & valuable for our gun boats. the gun carriage on the non-recoil principle is new to me—do the circular works for the gun differ from ours? can mr Orford be usefully employed[?] Affectionate salutations.