Philadelphia 24^th August 1798 Sir. I am favoured with your letter of the 20^th inst, I am greatly obliged by, your prompt attention to the business of the note, and am well pleased with the result of it. If you cannot exchange the Silver for Bank Notes, in which case the amount, might be enclosed by Post, keep it untill I have made an arrangement to draw for it. I will do my endeavour to have your Son furnished with money & Clothing, as you are persuaded with them he would even fill his Company. The Secretary of Wars eldest Son lies dangerously ill at Trenton, this circumstance joined, to his own ill health, retards the business of his Office. I am Sir, Your most Ob^t Servant [left margin: Gen^l W^m Irvine.] Samuel Hodgdon Philadelphia 21^st August 1799 Sir. You did not mention the rates at which you had contracted for the articles with M^r Starrs. I am fearful that some mistakes might happen on account of his proposition to make the Second belts without buckles. I have had two made, the one with a buckle the other without, by this mode I have discovered the cost of the buckle, and I find that those with buckles made of the best leather, and in the best manner can be afforded at 62 cts perhaps &c and those without buckles at 40 cents. I think the belts equal to any service, and that you may judge for yourself I send them to you. If the contract is not closed this information may be of use. You mention in your letter, that it will be proper to commence the buildings of the intended Laboratory. I never yet understood that the ground on which they are to stand is agreed on, that any Estimate of their cost has been prepared, nor indeed any thing relating to these since I presented a plan of the Buildings. I conclude the Surveyor may have received your directions for conducting the business, but I am totally ignorant in what state it is at present. I have ordered 246 pairs of Pistols to be delivered Jno Nicholson for use of the Navy Department, they are valued at six dollars a pair, at which rate they will be paid for if not retained in kind. You mention in your letter that a supply of Cartridges must be forthwith procured. In this City, at this time it is impracticable, but I have been anxiously waiting the Return of Cap^t Elliott, who I understood was to begin his laboratory preparations with a supply of Musket Cartridges. I should be glad to be informed, when he may be expected to return from Fort Fayette. I am Sir With respect & esteem Your most Ob^t Servant [left margin: James M^cHenry Esq^r Secretary of War] Samuel Hodgdon