Philadelphia 4^th April 1798. Dear Sir This moment I am favored with your letter of the 1^st instant. Phillips has behaved like a rascal as I expect he will be found — His load is a valuable one and the more so as it composes part of the Supplies for the Treaty with the Cherokees — Under circumstances I must beg the favor of you to agree with some able trusty person to take it on immediately, provided that you should find that Phillips has no means to proceed with the load himself in which case you will be good enough to ascertain by Survey whether the Packages remain intire as received and receipted for by Phillips — He has the invoice of his load which must be put into the hand of the Person who goes on with it — The conditions made with Phillips was to allow him fifteen Dollars and a half for every nethundred weight as per Invoice, and two hundred and twenty five Dollars was paid him in advance to enable him to proceed as is usual — till the other loads forwarded an alike conditioned — perhaps by a further advance Phillips might be able to proceed — if so I wish you to make it as far as two hundred Dollars if necessary — if under no circumstances he can be trusted to proceed, I wish you would at all events get the load on its way immediately, and draw on me at Sight, for any Sum you may find it necessary to advance — In this case I must request you to commence an action against Phillips in the most Summary mode to obtain Security for refunding the Sum paid him — I will thank you for information what to depend upon in the business With Sentiments of Esteem I am Sir Your Most Obedient Servant Samuel Hodgdon [Col. A. Anderson]