[Endorsement on address panel, written perpendicular to address:] [The?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 1793 Major Hodgdon Dear Sir There was a Resolution of Congress of the 11. January 1778, recommending to the Government of the State of Jersey, to cause the Anchor Iron Works to be put in Blast, for the purpose of procuring [undecipherable: Iron] to be made into Steel — On the 19^th. March of the same Year the Legislature resolved "that it be recommended to Col. Patton to agree with the present Owners, to take the s^d Works; & that in case the s^d Estate shall be legally [undecipherable] to the Government such Agreement shall be confined to M^r Patton or such Person as the Legislature shall approve of for any Term not exceeding 3 Years, that if the Owners shall refuse, the Legislature will take the necessary Steps for putting them into possession of the proper person &c." — Col. Patton did not agree with the Owners & declined having any thing to do with the Business — On the 21 May 1778 Col. Benj^t Flower entered into a written Agreement with Thomas Mayberry to continue in force for three Years, who was to take the said Iron Works & carry them on — The said Mayberry was put in possession of the said Works and [undecipherable] be much obliged to you to inform me [undecipherable] they were put in possession of the [undecipherable] what time he held them under said Agreement & any other facts you may have a knowledge of — I am Sir, with much Esteem — Your most humble Servant John Lardner C North Third Street N.13 Janneary 11. 1793 —