We the Commissioners and Trustees to Hire the Iron Works of Jno Wilcocks or purchase those in Guilford, Having met at the sd Wilcocks's Blumery & furnace and viewed and taken the Same into Consideration, find ourselves by the Resolve of Congress in some measure Restricted and Confined, in Contracting with the said Wilcocks upon the terms we apprehend most advantageous to the public, which is in taking Security upon this Estate and assisting him with some money to Compleat the sd furnace, &c. We have Hired him the Negroes for the use of the Public at the Rate of Two Hundred pounds per annum, for a longer or shorter time. All which we hope will meet with your approbation; the Restrictions we are under Relative to the premises we submit to your Consideration and trust you will give such Instructions on that point as may warrant us to do what we Humbly Submit to you & Conceive to be most Beneficial to the Public Int.