Philadelphia 26 June 1798 Sir As soon as possible after the receipt of this letter you will please to send to Springfield Massachusetts to the address of Archibald Crarey Esq^r five hundred stands of Arms properly secured in cases of twenty five each — The distance by land from Springfield to Providence is I think by the nearest route between seventy and eighty Miles and I am of opinion the arms should be sent in that way, though more expensive, than the water route by Hartford which may be attended with considerable delay — If I am right in my conjecture, you will send them by land, but if a considerable saving will be made by sending them by the way of Hartford, and that without loss of time let them go that way, in either case M^r Crarey will pay the amount for transportation agreed on, you will send him an invoice of the Arms and let him know [strikethrough: what] what to pay for the transportation. If there is like to be detention from any circumstance write to me immediately and advise me of it — I am Sir Your Most Obedient Servant Samuel Hodgdon Philadelphia 2^6th June 1798 Cap^t John Briant. Sir I must again trespass on your goodness by requesting you to send four of the twenty four pounders remaining at Providence to Portland in the district of Maine to the address of Samuel Heck Merchant in that place — By a letter received from that Gentleman we are informed he has a Brigat Providence, returning to Portland which will take them in, should she be there at the receipt of this letter, you will have no more trouble than barely shipping them, should she have failed you will please to send some other vessel bound to the same places and put them on board her — I am Sir With sentiments of esteem Your most Cap^t Joseph Elliot Obedient Servant — Officer Commanding at Fort S 1 Newport New Port Rhode Island Samuel Hodgdon