[Sep^t 25. 1797 Sam.^l Hodgdon Esq^r superintendants] [Recorded] T. D. September 25^th 1797 Sir I have rec'd your favours of the 11^th — inclosed you will receive [strikethrough: copies of] my letters to M^r Da Costa & M^r Hughes, which were intended for your perusal, I understand it to be a settled point that the five nine pounders [strikethrough: undecipherable] will answer the purpose, you will however, judge whether as they have been long exposed in the open Air, they ought not to be [strikethrough: undecipherable] cleaned examined & proved before they are shipped. If the six pounders are reported to be of the kind wanted, (which I [strikethrough: will] may be decided immediately) — the whole may be shipped at once. — The shipment ought to be under M^r Francis's discretion as the charge must appear in his accounts with the Frigate. [strikethrough: What has been done with respect to the [undecipherable] Colours is no otherwise important] I have no doubt of your good intentions in directing the Colours to be made, & if as you suppose, M^r Francis has not taken similar measures, all [strikethrough: undecipherable] may have happened for the best. I am &c Lieut. Hodgden Esq^r