Philadelphia 11 June 1798. Sir— Enclosed you have the Public Store keepers receipt for The salt Peter forwarded by you in consequence of my former letter— You will perceive that it falls short of your invoice, weight three hundred and fifty eight pounds and three quarters which shews a loss of three quarters per cent. Most of this has probably arisen from the Salt petre is drying, being as you informed me for a long time confined in a dry room. A small part may be supposed to have been lost by transporting. I shall furnish the Comptroller of the Treasury with a similar receipt which will enable you to close your account for the purchase. I am, Sir Your Most Obedient Servant Thomas Lloyd Halsey. Samuel Hodgdon. Merchant. Philadelphia 11^th June 1798. Sir, Enclosed you have Thomas Lloyd Halsey's invoice of the Salt Peter purchased by him for the United States. Also the Store-keepers receipt for such part of it as he has received. I have written to M^r Halsey and have enclosed him also a similar receipt to enable him to close his cash account for the purchase. It will be found, the receipt is three hundred and fifty eight pounds and three quarters less than the invoice. This shews a [undecipherable] quarters of a per Cent, which I can easily conceive may have arisen from the drying of the Peter, being as I am informed confined in a very close room when about it was purchased. A small portion must have also been lost when Coopering and transporting. The whole is submitted by Your Most Obedient Servant John Steel Esq^r Samuel Hodgdon. Comptroller.