[Address panel of folded letter:] War department Augs. 29. [undecipherable] Samuel Hodgdon Esq C Philadelphia [Administrative notation, lower right, at angle:] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] War department August 29. 1798 Sir, A day or two previous to our leaving Philadelphia, I gave Mr Demas some attestation of Soldiers to print. one proof of which he I saw the day I came away. I have written to him for a revisal in order to see whether it was sufficiently correct to be struck off. He promised to send it last week - it has not yet come to hand. We are now in want of the attestation - I beg if it can be done with safety that you will send down to him for a revisal and have it forwarded to me under cover to the Secretary of Wars. If his men have all left him and he cant print it to speed, he is requested to inform me as in that case they must be immediately printed here - I beg pardon for troubling you on the occasion but I know of no person in Town to whom I can apply. May you and your family be preserved in this time of Calamity is the sincere wish of your obed. ser. H. Jones