Philadelphia 26^th Sept 1798 Sir I have received your letter of the 25^th Inst enclosing the advertisement for the Clothing — No Artillery Clothing I observe is inserted — It is out of my Power to forward Pattern articles to Boston to be of use previous to the 20^th of next month — because we have neither the Shirts, Woolen, or [strikethrough: linen] Overalls in Store for Privates of any Description — except indeed a few Shirts, from which none suitable for Patterns can be selected — The Pattern articles, by which the last Contract has been acting are in store, and I can only answer for this Post — indeed I should have prefered having New ones even here, but neither time or circumstances admit. With this early information of the state of our store you can determine, what is best to be done — I may be mistaken, but I exceedingly doubt whether any contract will be made within the time mentioned and I am certain the supplies cannot be furnished at the periods specified. The proposals called for supposes the Musicians to be furnished with Netts Shirts, Woolen & Linen Overalls as [undecipherable] By an existing order they were to be furnished with Serjeants Cloathing and they have for some time past been supplied accordingly. I thought it would be best to mention this circumstance, before any contracts are made — I am Sir Your most Ob^d Serv^t Samuel Hodgdon — James M^cHenry Esq. Philad^a 26^th Sept 1798. Sir I have received your letter of 22^d instant — I have nothing to do with such Certificates as you mention — you must receive payment through your employer, who must make his requisitions to the Treasury of the United States to be furnished with means to meet his engagements. I am Sir Your mo^st Ob^d Serv^t Samuel Hodgdon — M^r James Caldwell