[Docket notation, upper right of cover sheet: Washington / Saml. Ames / D.S. [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] / [undecipherable]] [Address:] Major Samuel Hodgdon Esquire Superintendent of Military Stores Philadelphia Springfield Decem^br No 23. 1794 Sir — Conceiving it to be my duty in the Office to which I am appointed at this place — to write to you with freedom and without reserve, for information in such things as I am in doubt about — and for such Supplies as shall tend to Expedite the business that I have engaged to do — and think it a too error to be particular in soliciting information in such things as I am in purpose concerning — then to be backward, as I have no Orders yet that are of an Indefinite Nature — relating to any of the [undecipherable] — and [undecipherable] if you would be pleased to form — as such an Indenture as will be Agreeable for the Government to have Apprentices bound in for this business — and whether a Minor [undecipherable] engage himself on Apprenticeship in the Public Service by covenant or [undecipherable] could be taken away by any person who should offer forward as guardian to said Minor — the number of Apprentices increases very slow — and am quite doubtful whether I shall obtain as many as are Desired me to get — but believe if I was authorized to give — Suitable Encouragement to such persons as would put there Sons to this business — and engage for there fidelity, I should be able to inlarge the Numbers. There is one or two of the Workmen who have brought there Sons with them — that have some knowledge of the Business — and are willing that they should enter as apprentices if they could have [undecipherable] Extra allowance therefore which I think is Right — we are in quite want of a Pattern to work by — and if you have one that you can find now — be pleased to [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] accompt how they are [undecipherable] me made — wish that you would be pleased to [undecipherable] in the Remainder of the balance due on the [undecipherable] of expences that I made out to you — and find that I can't [undecipherable] the business to near so good advantage as I could had I the cash to pay in hand instead of being Trusted — and some of the men are in want of money to procure there decent Lodging — I hope you will approve of the Repairing the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable: Lavoratory?] for the workmen — as if you [undecipherable] any — and more the want of it — both as it tends to [undecipherable] of time — and an extra Expence of [undecipherable] these [undecipherable] — I hope that you will be pleased to send a direct answer the money mentioned above and a pattern to work by [P.S.] [undecipherable] for the matter — And am always [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] for his family — and as he is a [undecipherable] Esteemed Sir — of unquestionable ability in this business — both for his [undecipherable] and the more [undecipherable] advantage of [undecipherable] — that this [undecipherable] might be granted — your [undecipherable] [Honble.] [Sami?] Major Samuel Hodgdon David Ames