New London, Virginia 17^th October 1796 Sir When I engaged with you in Philadelphia, to come to this place to work in the United States Armoury, for the term of one year, it was agreed, that if I should be at any time unable to work owing to Sickness, that my pay should go on in the same manner as if I was at Work. By a rule entered into by M^r Perkin in May inst, by which the pay and Subsistance of every person employ'd in the public Works here [strikethrough: is stopped] should be stopped for every hour he is not at Work. I consider myself as injured; having had some time past a very Severe Fever and Ague, which disabled me so much as to prevent my being able to do my usual Work for nearly a month, and in consequence of the rule enters into by the Superintendant my pay was stopped. — After the expiration of the term for which I was engaged, I shall cheerfully agree to be put upon the same footing with the other hands employ'd here, but trust, that until that time, you will direct that no stoppage shall be made from my pay, in absence from Duty occasioned by Sickness, as being contrary to bargain. — I am Sir Your obliged Hum Serv^t Adam Bowser [To Sam^l Hodgdon]