Philadelphia 26^th Sep^t 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 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 Vests, Shirts, Woolen & Linen Overalls as [undecipherable] By an existing order they were to be furnished with Sergeants Clothing 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 James M^cHenry Esq. Your most Ob^d Ser^t Samuel Hodgdon —