[David Ames — Springfield — July 1798] [No. 2652] [Rec'd Nov. [undecipherable]] Col.^o Samuel Hodgdon Philadelphia Springfield July 21 1798 Sir I hope you will excuse my not forwarding you a monthly return of work in the Usual maner for instead of increasing our number in the month of June they have been unfortunately diminished upwards of three hundreds, and the mens time was all taken up in Assisting Mr. Nicholson in proving, repairing and mending such as fail'd in the operation and ware Judged fit to restore & the greatest part of this month will be taken up in finishing what was left to do at the close of the last in the same business except the making of some new tools and the finishing of few Muskets, which I shall forward you a return of, as soon as this month is clos'd, and would acquaint you that I have receiv'd a new Supply of good Iron and depend we shall not Sustain the loss in future by proving that we have done, while we have the liberty to chuse our own Iron. I hope the insuing month to compleat the usual number of Arms and recieve some advantage from the new workman, some of the fires in the new Shop on the Hill will be agoing in a week & the new Water Shop I am in hopes will be ready for business in three weeks, I shall write you again when I forward my return of work, I am yours with respect & Esteem [Colo S Hodgdon—] David Ames