Samuel Hodgdon Esq^t. Fred^g Virginia 2 Jan^y 1794. Sir When M^r Joseph Perkin passed through this town last Fall on his way to New London in this State, he published in the Virginia Herald the enclosed Advertisment & lodged a Thirty Dollar Bank Note with me which was all he could spare, requesting I would enlist as many workmen as I could in that branch of business as would engage to go to New London & for me to advance them money to convey them there & to draw on you for the same. Since which several have applied to me, but only Two have engaged & sett off from this Yesterday, for whom I have advanced the Sum of Twenty pounds fifteen Shillings & 4/2 this Currency, therefore must request you will be so good as to remitt me either in Money or bank Notes what sum you think proper to carry the said Advertisment into effect or at least the above sum after deducting the 30 Dollars left me by M^r Perkin allowing me five p^r Centum on the whole. & if my services here can be of any service to you or to the public you will please to command them, please to direct for me at this place (Fredericksburg) I am Sir Your most Ob^t Serv^t [undecipherable] (P.S. the names of the Two Men I sent on Yesterday are Edward [undecipherable] & Thomas Mallory, Two good workmen who formerly worked at the Rappahannock Forge under the [undecipherable] of old Perkin & I suppose one hundred Dollars, would be sufficient for all the others that I could engage besides & [undecipherable] [Address leaf:] Samuel Hodgdon Esq^t. Commissary of Military Stores South Water Street Philadelphia [Stamp: Received from State Dep't. Nov. 24 1894. R.P.O.401810.] [Enclosure — printed newspaper advertisement:] WANTED a number of sober industrious men, well skilled in the GUN BUSINESS, to be employed at New London, in Campbell county, Virginia, to repair a number of arms belonging to the United States: Good encouragement will be given. — For terms apply to Mr. JOHN LEGG, Fredericksburg; or to JOSEPH PERKIN, at New-London. November 6, 1793.