[J. H. Condy 4^s Feb^y 1797 Rec^d —] [Received from [undecipherable] to Dep^t No. 8 1994. F.O.4018.0.] Samuel Hodgdon Esq^m President of the Common Council of the City of Philadelphia Saturday Evening 4^th Feb^y 1797 Sir I am under the necessity of informing the Common Council that it will not be in my power to attend the Committee of conference on the Address to the President of the United States, as I shall be obliged to be absent from the City on Business of importance for some days. — This would have presented me from accepting the appointment [strikethrough: Committee of] had I Supposed that the Conference would not have compleated the duty assigned them before my departure from the City — Their Business contrary to my expectation having been considerably prolonged, I Submit to the Council the propriety of nominating another member to Serve on that Committee in my place — With Sentiments of Respect and Esteem, I am Sir Your very Humble Servant Samuel Hodgdon Esq. J. H. Condy —