[Samuel Hodgdon or gme] [Endorsed (rotated): [undecipherable] Col — [undecipherable: probable reading Williams] 1794 for [undecipherable]] New London December 16^th 1794 I now herewith forward to you my Pay Rolls, Estimate and Return for the month of November, the sum on the estimate amounts to nine hundred and forty two Dollars, 54½ Cents which please send to me as early as possible — The Boarding business has fallen altogether in the hands of [the] Workmen, a method [undecipherable] regards [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] and on [undecipherable] account they are particularly in want of money to enable them to secure provisions for the ensuing Year — I request you will Please send me the amount of Monies which you have paid on account of the workmen for the months of August and September to enable me to settle with them — I have made some Progress in the examination of the Powder, and found it far better than [undecipherable] supposed [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the Ball [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and scarcely any, a [undecipherable] distance [undecipherable] Fifty [undecipherable], you will [undecipherable: probable reading perceive] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Wages [undecipherable] the Workmen are raised from 20. [undecipherable]. to 30 dollars [undecipherable] men are the most Valuable in the [undecipherable] — they will generally [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] should have better Wages than themselves and [undecipherable] to leave the business [undecipherable] their [undecipherable] was made equal to him, Mr [undecipherable] and myself to bring up the business thought [undecipherable] to raise their wages [undecipherable] until we could know your determination on the [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] to regret you will Please [undecipherable] me [undecipherable] of Fifty Dollars on account [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to Mr [undecipherable] [undecipherable] at the corner of [undecipherable] and Water Streets I have the honor to be [undecipherable] great respect [undecipherable] most Obedient Humble Servant [undecipherable: probable reading Wm S. Birtle] Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r [undecipherable] [undecipherable] or also [undecipherable] near [undecipherable] [undecipherable] many [undecipherable] account and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and was [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] when called upon for [undecipherable] he had not entirely completed [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] by most [undecipherable] [undecipherable]