[190] Philadelphia 21^st August 1798 Sir, I have received your note of yesterdays date. We have not a compleat suit of Clothing in Store. I shall make the best arrangement relative to a supply of Clothing to the Recruiting Parties the circumstances of the business admit. Lieut. Many & Knight have received their Clothing several days ago. Cap^t Pratt's Clothing must have arrived by this time. I have wrote frequently to the Secretary but am yet without answer. The sickness is much as when you left us. I am Sir (your most Ob^t servant M^r Nathan Jones Samuel Hodgdon Philadelphia 23^d August 1798 Sir, I have received your letter of the 21^st inst relative to the contract made with M^r Starr for 2000 Horsemens Swords, with their Scabbards and Belts. The 6 Swords orderd for patterns are making by the same person who made that shewn to M^r Starr I shall send a sword with its Scabbard & belt as models for his government in making those he has contracted for. The supply of Cannon & Stores for Goat Island shall be attended to with as much dispatch as the nature of the business will admit — [191] The Secretary of the Navy informs me you have written & directed me to supply any articles in Store on his Order. I have received no such letter. I am Sir (your most Obedient Servant, James M^cHenry Esq^r Samuel Hodgdon Philadelphia 28^th August 1798 Sir, I have received your letter of the 22^d Inst. I have no letter from the Secretary of War, authorising the delivery of Stores to your order. We have no Military Stores or Arms on hand which were procured for the Navy, you must remember the Articles thus circumstanced remaining on hand were delivered to Cap^t Gill. In a letter to the Secretary of War dated the 17^th inst I informed him the selection & appraisement of the Items intended to be sold to your department had been made and that 629 were accordingly ready to be delivered at 6 dollars a price in the present state. I have received no answer to the letter. We have also on hand 100 pairs of Pistols which at a small expence may be made to answer well for shipping, the information may perhaps enable you to procure an order for delivery by way of purchase at an appraised value. With sentiments of respect & esteem I am Sir Your most Ob^t Servant Samuel Hodgdon B. Stoddert Esq^r Secretary of the Navy