Springfield July the 29 1796 Sir I have ben duly honoured with your favour of the 19 instant, & from the Secretary on the subject of Supplies I have found no Defect that I can find you a master by, but shall not give over my panters till I do — have made the Pattern you Sent the rule of work as you will see by the one I shall Send. Respecting the price have to define that you or the Secretary at War will give leve to imploy four more hands than I now have — as it will enable me to keep all parts of the work even, and make the business more systematical than tis possible to with the present Number — and shall then without [undecipherable] circumstances prevent compleat four a day — and pray that I may have orders to gratefy my request as tis both essential & necessary to make them come at the Eleven dollars. There has a Gentleman desired me to write you to know if the United States, would wish to contrat for 8 or 10 thousand stands of Armes agreeable to the French Charleville and tis likely from what I can learn that they may be obtaind for 11 dollars a pose. I am most respectfully your very Obedent and humble Servant David Annis Col^o Hodgdon [Address leaf: To Samuel Hodgdon Esquire, Philadelphia] [Docketted: Annis — Springfield — 29 July — 1796]