Niagara Sept^r 6. 1798 Sir Your favor of the 15^th Ultimo reached this place yesterday & I hasten to return an answer — I am sorry that Doctor Coffin expressed himself in such manner when he wrote to you, as to give occasion to the mistake which has happened, for it was not a return of Q C- which was wanted Nor the first Since we [undecipherable] of the garrison, but one of January 98 & the last transmitted to your Office by L.^t M.^c Hallen — It would take a Month's instant application to make an Inventory & this even, in case of deficiency they could not be chargeable to the proper person, as a transfer to me of the Articles was made on the 6.^th of Sep. 97. As to two Quarter Masters [undecipherable] of whom is absent at the [undecipherable] Since under Me; besides, Number of Articles has been forwarded Since the date of the returns which you make, Such as Clothing Hospital Stores &c. — For all Issues from September to February M.^r M.^c Hallen has vouchers — from February to this date Doc.^t Coffin must account & is [undecipherable] to enable him to do it with precision — I beg you will be so good as to send the last Quarterly return which you received from Niagara Permit me to apologise for the Trouble & believe me with great respect Sir Your Most Obedient Humble Servant J J U Rivard [Sam.^l Hodgdon Esq.^r Intendant of Stores —] P.S. Please to send Returns &c. under Cover of the Secretary of war — The last [undecipherable] amounting [undecipherable] to 75/ [Cover address panel: 25. n — Niagara Sept.^r 6. 1798 — Sam.^l Hodgdon Esq.^r — Intendant of Stores — Philadelphia] [Marginalia, upper right corner of cover: undecipherable]