Pittsburg 3d November 1797 Sir, Your letters of the 23d & 26th, with their enclosures, viz., a General Invoice of Stores forwarded, and a News Paper, are received. Timber for the four eighteen & two Twenty four pounders shall be provided. But will it not be convenient to send from Phila the Iron for their Carriages. I think it is probable you have in some of your places of Deposit at least the Cap Squares of decayed carriages of similar guns. By sending these much time will be [illegible] in mounting them. By last post I transmitted you a Return of Stores up to the 1st October 1797, and a similar return was the preceeding post transmitted to the Secretary of War.
I hope Colo Forest will attend to my request, but should he decline I must in that case be under a necessity of laying the weight of that business on you. I presume however that Colo Forest will undertake and perform it.
I am glad indeed that you have a fair prospect of a return of health to your City and that Business will shortly resume its usual course. A duplicate of Thomas Martin’s Receipt is enclosed.
I am, Sir, Your Obed Servant I. C. Samuel Hodgdon Esquire Philadelphia