Lancaster 18^th December 1795 Sir I am extremely Sorry indeed that So much time has elapsed before it was in my power to furnish you with the receipts for the delivery of the goods which I undertook to deliver at Fort Pitt last Spring, And Also furnish to you the [undecipherable] which I hoped it you will I hope Pardon it. The case is as follows, After I sent my own Team as far as Strasburg with the load for which the receipts [undecipherable], Several of my horses are taken Sick with the Common Distemper in horses in the Western Country (the Yellow Water) in Consequence of which I was obliged to hire my load in order to engage Some other Waggoners to Carry the load on as Expeditiously as Possible which was done as appears from the rece of the receipt, But on the Waggoner return he had the Misfortune to loose his Pocket Book which Contained the receipt, which he never recovered until about two days Since, and Yesterday he came from Franklin County and delivered it to me, So that I have now the pleasure of transmitting it to you which will I hope be Satisfactory and will enclose all the articles which are not Contained in the receipts heretofore transmitted you and remain his Your most Oblig'd most [undecipherable] Serv^t Matthias Slough Col. Samuel Hodgson [Received from State Dep^t / Nov. 21 / R.P.O. 4013.0] [Cover address: Col. Samuel Hodgdon / Philadelphia] [Docket, upper right: Matthias Slough / Lancaster / 18^th December 1795 / [undecipherable]] [Note below address: Inclosing / the receipts for / the delivery to the [undecipherable] / [undecipherable]]