[Acknowledgement from Samuel Hodgdon Quarter Master — No 76 —] [22] [New London 6 June] — Samuel Hodgson Esquire — In charge of Military Stores — Philadelphia New London June 3^d 1796 Since I wrote to you on the 9^th of April I have made some progress in the examination of the Musket Cartridges & many of them. I have found entirely damaged. They were generally found damaged than Saltpetre received in that State. At the same time I have discovered that a number of those returned as good are also unfit for service and even in the same Cartridge a Section of the Powder to Wit that next to the life of it has been found to be good while the cover fixed next to the Ball was in a decayed State, this circumstance has suggested to me the Propriety of Making a general and thorough examination of the State of them, And am deterred from that pursuit only on account of the loss of the Skafer made use of which will I think in general be unavoidable. I have, however it may be of greater importance to maintain the quality of the Powder with precision supposing the total loss of the Skafer in doing it, to the consequence than to remain in a great degree ignorant of its state for the sake of preserving the Skafer — In this particular Sir I must beg to be favored with your instructions how to Act. — I am all present engaged in dusting and sorting the Powder in Barrels and also emptying the Powder out of the Cannon Cannon Cartigns unconnected with Ball which I treat in the same manner and have the whole put away in Barrels — I am at a loss to know what to do with the fixed Cannon Cartiges. Most of the Flannel is considerably injured by the Moth, the quality of the Powder I cannot fully ascertain without unfixing them, and am unwilling to do it without your directions — If on the whole you shall think it best that there be a general and renewed handling of all the Powder, and that it be put into Barrels I will proceed as soon as I shall receive your instructions — I shall be employed in the business for — I am now engaged for perhaps two or three Weeks, and have to beg you will please to favor me with an answer to this letter as soon as Possible I have the honor to be Respectfully Sir Your Obedient Servant [W^m Bolls] Samuel Hodgson Esquire