[Address leaf: Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r / Superintendent of all ordnance, military / and naval Stores. / Philadelphia] [Postal notation: [undecipherable]] Albany Nov^r 1^st 1794 Sir In Consequence of Your favor to me Dated the 9^th of oct^r Which I have Not received until the 26^th of the Same, I have Shipped immediately on Board the Sloop Sukey & Peggy of albany David Smith Master fifteen hundred Stands of Arms Agreeable to the request of Capt. Fleming at West Point, the Arms Directed to the Care of Capt Cornelius R. Sedam Who Will Directly forward them to your [undecipherable] in Philadelphia By the Convey route upon the requisition of Cap^t Fleming. I am sorry to observe, Sir, that these Arms are not all together in Such a Good order as I have received them for all my Attention in keeping them & the other Stores, but having No [undecipherable] to attend them but my Self Since 13 Months they are under My Care, I am in hope that the Blame Will Not fall heavy upon me. I Still presume they Will be all fit for immediate Service With a Very little trouble. permit me, Sir, to Congratulate You, of the Choice that this excellency the President has made of you respecting Your Appointment, it Could not be in a Better Hands, and I am happy My Self to be once more under You, having had the pleasure of Your Acquaintance, by Which Reason You have had an opportunity to Know my Character. it is necessary Sir, that You should be informed of an Astonishing Circumstance that is took place in Albany respecting these 1500 [undecipherable: probable reading "Stands"] of Arms. as I am obliged to Employ Journey Men When I have any thing or Work to do in my Store, although I Do not Suffer a Man But the Labouring Persons to Come in, By Some these Men, or What ever other Means, I Cannot Say; one [underline: Charles Webster] a Printer in Albany, having been informed of, has took upon himself to insert it in one of his newspaper, Without Asking Me Wether it was right or Wrong, or Any request to Me Whatever, on the Subject untill he has Meated Me Next Day after in the Street, previous My Seeing that in his paper & told me of it himself. I then Sir, have expressed My Great Astonishment to him in earnest, telling him that I Was Surprized he Should Without My Consent Make a public a thing that ought to be Keep Secret. even, Sir, if he had Asked me Any question I Woud not give him Any Satisfaction. therefore Sir, Should Any Such report Came to your hearing, you Will Not blame me, and I thought it My Duty to inform You of that, otherwise you Woud Say With great propriety that I am Not to be entrusted With Any private Business, Which of course Woud be Very Injurious to me. Will you be Pleased, Sir, to present My best respects to Mistress Hodgdon, accept also My Sinceer Wishes for Your Wellfare and family, and beleive Me With a very great regard. Sir Your Most obedient & humble Serv^t Boudin Sam^l Hodgdon Esq^r Superint^t &^c