[M^r John Steinmetz 11 May 1794] M^r John Steinmetz Philad^a 10^th M. 1794 Sir — your favor of the instant is before me. Taking it for granted that three years was the term for which the Lease was given and accepted, the Money you state to have received completes it. From our [strikethrough: expressed] Friendship of you, I should as much rely on your word as Bond — but why you should [strikethrough: suppose I should] remain silent on a Subject which on my honor I declare I [undecipherable: believe] to be otherwise, than you state it I [undecipherable: can] not conceive — It is possible that you may be mistaken, or is it certain that I am — all my friends declare that from [strikethrough: first] to last I always mentioned the Lease [strikethrough: for] five years — and [strikethrough: so] I repeat it [strikethrough: through] [strikethrough: all that time in your] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] — but Sir, the Property is gone, and [strikethrough: I had] rather [strikethrough: suffer] than contend. [strikethrough: In the] the matter [strikethrough: therefore] I [undecipherable: propose] to you to [undecipherable: give me] the [strikethrough: to restore all the Stores replace] [strikethrough: the [undecipherable]] Store entire which was [undecipherable: given] [strikethrough: to me under] the [strikethrough: first] agreement which [undecipherable: in it] [strikethrough: rendered [undecipherable] easy the [undecipherable] of] the Salt Store, for the small upper Store is no equivalent for it — to [undecipherable: have] the Parlor To end the [undecipherable: Business] I am [undecipherable: content] to receive all the Stores comprehended in the [strikethrough: prior] first [strikethrough: agreement] [undecipherable] [strikethrough: in the [undecipherable] that is the] for [strikethrough: I do not] [undecipherable] I consider the small upper Story as no equivalent for it — to have the Parlor painted, and to commence the Rent you mention [strikethrough: it] after the present quarter is [strikethrough: over] [undecipherable: completed] and to hold the Premises for [undecipherable: one] year from that time — Conditions under [strikethrough: given] [undecipherable: common] and circumstances so reasonable I conceive will be acceded to. I am Sir your most Obedient Servant Samuel Hodgdon P.S. I wish also to know what rent you have for the Chamber in your New Store