[Cover notation — top right, rotated:] Henry Bidinger — [Shepherds?] [Town?] [May?] 24 [1798?] [Rec'd? Ans'd?] 30 [Thomas?] [Postal stamp] Free Col^l Samuel Hodgdon Philadelphia --- Shepherds Town May 24^th 1798 Sir By your Letter of the 12^th Inst was Reed my the 21^st of Inst. Fortunately there happened to be Standing by three persons of respectability, who saw me to take it out of the Mail, and their [undecipherable] in their presence — on reading the 2^d paragraph, where you Say "Enclosed you have a post note for M^r Hend[undecipherable], to reimburse [you?] the Sum [undecipherable], as he knows that [undecipherable] as soon as the Vouchers come to hand and [conform?] [the Amount?]" — I Stopped, communicated that part & required them to their particular Notice that there was one requesting of a Bank note or any other thing, — and Enclosed [the?] addressing the note had been Omitted through haste; — I concluded there because the Seal of the Letter, until I Separated appeared in Suspect [undecipherable: condition], and very [defaced?] — I must Say therefore, with the Supposition that you will Discover the Mistake — The Waggons employed in the transportation of the Stores, have not yet returned, when they do, I will forward M^r George [Ringler?], together with other Vouchers as will be required to obtain payment — Every enquiry in my power has been made by me Since the receipt of your last, respecting the arms and other [undecipherable] Claimed by the State of Maryland, without Success. — Ely Langham's [agent?] was looked up, Consequently Stood him no account to them, and if I had Success, it would be difficult for me to [undecipherable] the account, or identify the Arms. — There [are?] made known of my own knowledge, that about the time the Stores were [delivered?] at the place, Ely Langham informed me, those Arms were delivered, belonging to the State of Maryland, that as far as I [could?] have them [repaired?] and put in good order, he would [send?] them to [Frederick?] Town, & I believe [I?] [handed?] to [deliver?] those arms, and those of the United States; One [occurring?] at the [undecipherable] with the [principal?] [undecipherable] of arms here yesterday, he did he also [called?] something about Separating the Maryland Arms from those of the U.S. — but knows not that they were actually Sent away — upon this alone, I have not been able to obtain Satisfactory information [as?] to learn that the Maryland arms are Still here, or, that they have been Sent to their proper [place?]. I have every reason to Suppose that Ely Langham will return about the time he has promised, when he does return[s?], I will immediately Communicate your [request?], and do not [doubt?] that he will Satisfy [you?] fully — the time being Short, a delay therefore of a few days can be of no extraordinary Consequence to the State of Maryland — I wish, it was in my power to give the information required, and it is equally impossible for me to give you a Statement [relating?] to the [returned?] Store[s?] Loaned to the State of Virginia having no access to documents upon which I can [found?] a Statement — I know the arms or a part of them was returned in [No]vember 1793, and that M^r Langham Called on me to [take?] them, and to [apprise?] the [Secretary?] of their Situation, but can say nothing as to [referring?] [undecipherable] I am Greatly Obliged by your friendly Communications respecting the Conduct of the Secretary[?] [towards me?] as much of your promises of [doing?] your utmost I [rest?] in my [favor?] as the [Success?] of [Maj.?] Langham — In [hopes?] I Shall [keep?] [them?] your [faithful?] [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] and at Short notice, Sir your Obt Ser^t Henry Bidinger [Col. Samuel Hodgdon]