[Endorsements on cover: Sith B. Wigginton / 10 Aug / 1797 / Rec'd 13 Aug] [Philad: 11 Aug^t] [Address:] Samuel Hodgdon Esquire Assistant A^tty of the [undecipherable] at Philadelphia Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r. Fredbg: N^o. 10 Aug: 1797 Sir Agreeable to your letter of the 25^th Ultmo I have endeavored to get the information therein mentioned; tho I have not yet been able to inform myself fully. From the best information I have yet rec'd which I believe may be relied on — James Hunter contracted with the State of Virginia, or some person authoriz'd by the United States for three Shot, among which there were [undecipherable], Chain Shot, & Bar Shot, and he (James Hunter) purchase them of Col. Bruce Place, and delivered them on the Bank of the Rappahan- nock between the fall of the year 1777 & Spring 1781 This in the year 1791 & 1792 Joseph Perkins was employed by the public to take charge of the said Shot, who built a house and put [strikethrough: the] [undecipherable] therein; and they have con- tinued there ever since until Mr Patrick Home, undertook to convert them into Bar Iron — I cannot yet find out the exact quantity or sizes of the Balls first deposited, nor those left when Mr Perkins's [undecipherable], but suppose his Return [if he made any] may be seen — I have written this day (he resides in New London) and requested him confidentially to give me all the information he could, requesting him Next I have written to Mr John [undecipherable], who was the prin- cipal manager for Mr Hunter at the time, those Balls were Contracted for, and I hope he can give me a very particu- lar act of the number contracted for, by whom, & the quantity actually delivered. When I receive answers from the above persons I will inform you the results. And in the interim I make no doubt of being able to get every proof necessary to establish the Facts altogether will be sufficient for his con- viction — I can now prove his Waggons have carried Iron from [strikethrough: that] this Town, I believe him at the Forge, and that they have been loaded into [undecipherable] weight, but cannot ascertain correctly the quantity taken, in want of knowing the exact quantity at first deposited, & for fear of some being suspected, I have not taken an account of what is left, but that will not long, there being but few, I mean to be [undecipherable] alone until I get compleat information of the number sent out by Mr Perkins. Which you may perhaps procure one with from his return if he made any) Mr Home had a Waggoner who was employed in carrying the Shot to his Forge who I expect will be a sufficient evidence to prove his taking them from the House they were put in by Perkins — but he being from home, I have not been able to see him — The persons can prove the above facts by, are Mr Nichols, Williams, Junior, [undecipherable] others; as soon as I can divulge the thing there is no doubt of there being a great number of others — As I am a Novice in law, or any things of this kind, any instructions you may think necessary will be thankfully received & strictly attended to By Sir your Mo. Ob. Ser. Sith B Wigginton