[Thomas [undecipherable], 1796, [undecipherable]] [Received from State Dep't, Nov. 24, 1894, R.P.O. 401810.] [Addressed: Samuel Hodgdon Esquire / Superintendent of Military Stores / Philadelphia] New London November 21^st 1796 Sr Two days ago the Articles forwarded by you to this place on my last requisition came to Hand except a deficiency of Twenty four Pounds of Steel and Fifteen of the Files of the largest Size. Twenty three whole bars of Steel came to hand the Twenty four^th being not more than Eight or Ten Inches in length and had evidently been broken, this loss in the Steel was sustained during its passage from Philadelphia to Manchester or at the latter place, as the quantity delivered here corresponded with the receipt the Waggoner gave in Manchester — Enclosed is a letter written to you by Adam Bowser on the subject of the stoppage of his Pay during the time of Sickness agreeable to a Rule entered into by Mr Perkin and myself to guard the Public against impositions of the practised on it by sundry of the People in that way heretofore — It is but Justice to say that Adam Bowser is a faithful industrious Man, but we did not know how to make discriminations as it would have the most fatal tendency, You will please direct Whether any particular Indulgence can be granted to him I have the Honor to be with Sentiments of the highest Respect Sir Your Obedient Servant Samuel Hodgdon Esquire [undecipherable: probable reading W. Holts] --- [Enclosure] [Docket: Adam Bowser / 17 Octo. 1796 / Com. Armoury [undecipherable] / Sickness, on account of / Sickness —] [Received from State Dep't, [undecipherable], R.P.O. 401810.] [Addressed: Colonel Samuel Hodgdon / Philadelphia] 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 Mr. Perkin in May last, by which the pay and Subsistance of every person employed in the public Workes 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 many a month, and in consequence of the rule entered into by the Superintendent 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 employed 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 Sir^d Adam Bowser Col. Sam^l. Hodgdon