Fort Washington 23^d September 1791 Sir In consequence of your Warrant of this days date as Superintendant of the Horse department, You will, as soon as circumstances permit, take a very accurate Account of all the Horses, both Public & Private property, now employed in my department, and make such Entries of them as will enable you to account for the whole of them, at any period, when called upon for that purpose. — Every mark, whether Natural or Artificial, Colour, Age, and Heighth you will be particular in noticing & in fact every other particular relative to them which may enable you to designate them under all situations & circumstances. The Horse Masters appointed under your Superintendency will make their Reports to you from day to day, in order that you may be enabled to make them to me. — You will see that the Horse Drivers execute all the duties which they have engaged to perform, & which the Public justly expects from them. — The present situation of the Horses you will take special notice of, and you will know that they are regularly supplied. — Should any Medicine or Requisites be necessary for them in order to render them more serviceable to the Public, or to restore them if injured, you will make due return thereof, that as far as our present situation will admit, such necessaries may be supplied, and in fine, You will notice every Particular, whether relating to Pack-horse-Master, Driver or Horse, that may have a tendency to further the Public Service. As the great end & design of this Appointment is that the Public may reap every possible Advantage from the Labours of those already engaged in its Service under your direction. — You will be carefully & diligently employed to further & promote these important intentions, that every reasonable expectation relative to your Appointment be answered, & real benefits experienced: this will not only be valuable in itself, but, will be the surest means of enhancing your own Reputation & deserving my Esteem, as well as, that of a Generous Public, whose greatest care is to reward its faithfull Servants, while it pays to all a just tribute for fidelity & good Conduct. I am, Sir, Your most Obedient Servant. Samuel Hodgdon [To Robert Benham.]