thigh—I feel more about it than any one else can. I assure

you if any unserviceable arms have gone to Maryland, it has
been owing to the negligence and stupidity of my men and
inspectors who has assured me when each lot of arms went
from here that they were serviceable. I have discovered that
gome of the first arms I sent out have a breech pin a little
too small, but there are not many I trust. You will oblige
me by sending me at once a list of the defects. The guna
that have left here for several months past I think are right,
I have just discovered, too, that there may be some with the
hammer a trifling too loose on the shank of the tumbler (this
is wrong and as soon as discovered they should be laid aside
for repair which can easily be done.) I am positive there is
nothing in the guns but can be easily repaired and that in
Other respects the guns are good and serviceable.

Hoping that you will give this matter your most prompt
attention and delegate your brother H. C. Hicks to go at
once to every place where the arms are distributed and ex-,
amine them—sending me those that are not every way right.

I want to know the faults and then I can correct the diffi-
culties. Don't hesitate to assure parties that if their is any
thing wrong about the guns they will be made right, I have
100 here now to substitute for any that prove defective.

Yours, very respectfully,

E. WHITNEY.

ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE.
Annapolis, May 3rd, 1861.
To His Excellency,

THOS. H. HICKS,

Governor of Maryland:
SIR:—

Your communication of the 30th enclosing an order
adopted by the House of Delegates requiring us to report at
an early day to the House in relation to the purchase of arms,