[Letter from Colonel Pickering [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 1784 Answered 22—] D[r]. Sir Phil[a]. [Q.]: Nov: 13. 1784 Yesterday I rec[eive]d a favor of the 27^th [undecipherable], and shall attend to the contents. You mention your intention of shipping my beef; but say nothing of the New Invented Cask, which must infallibly be [sent], or I shall charge [undecipherable], as well as M[r]. Clark, [undecipherable] of [undecipherable]. You have [undecipherable] Shell barks; but as they may be purchased at 8/ to 10/. perhaps they will not [undecipherable]. Cranberries are always dear here. [Now?] at 4[/] to 6. [$/] quart. In the [spring?] a [Shilling?]. If cheap with you, I would [wish?] for a [barrel?]. M[r]. Lovell has written me—; so has M[r]. [undecipherable]. From the latter I expect [you] will receive about 500 dollars, all he has [on] hand. I wrote you last [Tuesday?]. [undecipherable] com[—] By the time this reaches you, I expect you will be about returning. And I shall want a clerk to assist me this winter. I wrote to M[r]. [Williams?] about his son Tim, but [find?] by M[rs]. Blanchard that he is engaged at the [store?] of Frank [undecipherable] in [undecipherable]. If you know of a young man of very good character acquainted with accounts I should [be] glad [if] you would [engage?] him & bring him [undecipherable] [undecipherable] allowed [undecipherable] other clerks in the public offices here. [undecipherable] he must possess a fair character, & his disposition should be agreeable. Adieu! T. Pickering [Q. M. G.] [Sam: Hodgdon?] 30747