[6] Dear Sir New London January 3^d 1799 Having an opportunity, y a convenience, to Richmd I thought proper to inform you that will have been here going on three weeks [undecipherable] an [undecipherable] shop [undecipherable] & part of the [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] not yet [undecipherable] [undecipherable] how can I get away [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] then [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Holt hath made some appraises — To [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on the Terms I now not but I suppose he hath a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you of them once all [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] money I want to be held [undecipherable] it will be necessary to have a little money here as things may often be bought cheap [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] Country People for cash I should have [undecipherable] to you before but waited for the arrival of the things as soon as they arrive I will right you more [undecipherable] I have made out & [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] Holt a [undecipherable] not for the [undecipherable]s up to the 31 day of [undecipherable] last to [undecipherable] that here after we shall have no [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — I wish I could have you here for a few days I think you would make out some better regulations — Things don't seem to be on a right [undecipherable] there is a good [undecipherable] [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] has [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] which compared [undecipherable] the best [undecipherable] I should be glad if you would [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the muster — not you mentioned [undecipherable] me or [undecipherable] Holt there nothing [undecipherable] this [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — you [undecipherable] I have made [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in a [undecipherable] of uncertainty — the [undecipherable] rely on a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] things are [undecipherable] [undecipherable] there [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] there [undecipherable] [undecipherable] are among [undecipherable] but not yet [undecipherable] some I forgot to mention that I see your letter dating 3^d December but would be glad of [undecipherable] you [undecipherable] if you would try the necessity of a post being established between Richmond & this place as your letters set from 3 to 4 weeks before they come to hand I conclude with wishing you & [undecipherable] a very happy new year from [undecipherable] your humble Servant Joseph [undecipherable] [undecipherable — page heavily damaged and obscured throughout] [Letter from a [undecipherable] / [undecipherable: probable reading "Rhins" or "Atkins"] 5/[undecipherable] / 4. 1[undecipherable]] [Audy—] W^m Samuel J. Hodgdon & N[undecipherable] M [undecipherable]tson [undecipherable]water Street near [undecipherable]ark Philadelphia [Answered by / [undecipherable]] [Received from / [undecipherable]] [endorsed: [undecipherable]]