Washington 9 October 1797 I had the pleasure of receiving your fav[r.] of the 26 [undecipherable] for which am under Obligation. I am of opinion with you re: rect the person that proposes to join [undecipherable] the Bre[undecipherable] a 3 Doll[undecipherable] [undecipherable] am cannot concur in [undecipherable] motive is, unless to average with them, [undecipherable] of the Contract, counting a loss on that article I am inform[d] James Hays[undecipherable] Name [undecipherable] thing on [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] a 3 7½ Dollars his [undecipherable] on evident N York & [undecipherable] speech [undecipherable] on the Pub[undecipherable] A certain person [undecipherable] in Philad[elphia] [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] employ who one follow[undecipherable] [undecipherable] has [undecipherable] paid [undecipherable] some years to him [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to his friend in N[undecipherable] a plan to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] by [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] 13 [undecipherable] than we had [undecipherable] no doubt expected to [undecipherable] how he [a]tain[e]d knowledge of our terms I know not — One thing I am one of his Bre[undecipherable] are Neither of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] or [undecipherable]. I would [undecipherable] if his terms are [undecipherable] he will [be] [dis]appoint[e]d in [undecipherable] them with inspectors — I am mistaken — The pub[undecipherable] he proposes [under] — our proposals, or double them is not so much an Object with us, if [undecipherable] in the publick favour But our determination [undecipherable] de[undecipherable] in our engagement — whatever [undecipherable] your [undecipherable] [undecipherable] We are happy [to] receive yourself and [to] enjoy health[undecipherable] May a kind Providence will [undecipherable] you — M[r] & M[rs] Lane [undecipherable] ing our respects [to] M[rs] Hodgdon [undecipherable] with Sentiments of regard [signature] M[r.] Sam[ue]l Hodgdon [undecipherable: probable reading "Samuel McLane"] [undecipherable] 9 October 1797 [undecipherable]