Billings, Andrew (1743-1808) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01733 Author/Creator: Billings, Andrew (1743-1808) Place Written: Poughkeepsie, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 December 1782 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 21.5 x 17 cm. Order a Copy
Is honored to report that the two cannons entrusted to him will be ready for delivery by next Wednesday. Will soon be going away for some weeks and wishes he could be present to see them sent off, but hopes they will meet with Knox's approval. Explains that the quality of the engraving is not as high as he might be able to accomplish on copper because of the hardness of the cannon's metal. Describes how best to clean and maintain them: "if they are kept covered and once in a month washed with a clean brush and hot soap suds wrensed off with hot watter they will preserve the pollish." Hopes that his price of 40 guineas was not considered too extravagant, but the job did take him nine weeks to perform and required the labor of several workers as well. (See GLC02437.01746 for a certificate from Knox certifying Billings's engraving of the cannon.)
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