[draft] Philadelphia 7th May 1782 Sir [struck: A field Laboratory, in which I] It would be unnecessary to display to you the importance of a field Laboratory in which shall be prepared [struck: all kinds] [inserted: every species] of stores wanted for the Artillery. The expence [struck: which is] saved to the public, & the vast [struck: advantage] [inserted: utility] of [struck: containing] [inserted: preparing] in the field [struck: the raw materiel, which] all sorts of composition for immediate service, are advantages, too obvious to need a particular definition - I have established under many [strikeout] difficulty a laboratory equal to all the expences of service. - But in order to effect this I have been [struck: under the necessity] [inserted: obliged tho] [struck: often to] to substitute promises on the place of something more substantial. It is [struck: now] more than a year since this establishment has been made. [struck: and] I have hither been unable to perform my engagements. [struck: without which in some degree] [inserted: But should this inability continue] I cannot expect the officers and men employed on this service will willingly go on & exert themselves in [struck: duties] [inserted: a line] which in all [strikeout] Armies [struck: are] is considered as [inserted: an] extraordinary [inserted: duty] and for which [struck: which] a liberal allowance is given. The officers [2] labour [struck: like] in the same manner as the privates, who perform much harder Service than the common duties of their station. There has generally been [inserted: employed] an officer [struck: employed] as director of the Laboratory [inserted: and two or three of the officers] who [strikeout] [struck: might be allowed half a dollar a day in add[strikeout] to his pay] as assistants - I wish the former to be allowed half a dollar [struck: …service?] [inserted: a day] [struck: and] one third of a dollar [inserted: for each of the] [struck: other] Assistants, and one sixth of a dollar to the privates - This to be given only [illegible] in actual employment - If this [inserted: request] shall meet with your approbation a particular abstraction shall be made out for the Officers- [inserted: Although] That for the man has been already presented to your office I have the honor to be Your most Obedient Humble Servant HKnox The honorable General Lincoln Secretary of War. [docket] To General Lincoln 7th May 1782.