Pittsburgh 25^th March 1797 [Sir] The Secretary of War in his Letter to me of the 7^th instant, directs me to appoint an agent for the D^r Master Department at Philadelphia, and mentions that you have heretofore acted in that Capacity — I am now preparing my Estimates, which will be ready to forward by next Post, & with them I will send a Letter of Attorney authorising you to act as my agent. — My estimates for the posts down the river & on the Lakes will commence at the first of March, & my estimates for Pittsburgh with dependencies will commence the first of Aprile, to which time I have directed M^r Craig to settle up his accounts. From the first of Aprile, for the Posts depending on Pittsburgh, the Vouchers will hereafter be taken in my name. — am, Sir, your most Ob^t & Very Hum^t Ser^t M^r Sam^l Hodgdon } Philadelphia } . W^m Wilkins D^r Master Gen^l