[Jos. Williams / Oct 6 1798] [Received from State Dept. B.C.S. 301810.] Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r Superintendent of Military Stores Philadelphia Springfield Oct.^r 6^th 1798 Sir I have enclosed to your address a duplicate receipt of all Public Property deposited in the several Magazines at this place — late under the care of Captain John Bryant — also a return of the same with the receipts and deliveries — for the Month of September, with vouchers to support the same — also a return of all Buildings belonging to the Public their dimintions and Estimated Value I have not been able to procure from the Superintendent of the Armory a return of the Machines, Tools & Utencils Stock on hand, the first of Sept.^r as soon as I can obtain it, it shall be forwarded. — Am I to receipt to the Superintendent of the Armory for the above mentioned Articles and forward you a duplicate of the same — or does he receipt to me for them for the use of the Public Factory? I wish for your candor and indulgence If I am troublesome in calling on you for explanations of some part of my Instructions —. Are all articles used in the Factory of Arms, such as Iron, Steel, Coals &c &c to be received into the Public Stores and by me delivered to the order of the Superintendent of the Department? does he purchase them — or do I make the purchases on his exhibiting to me Invoices of the Articles wanted — Does he make returns and reports to me of the receipts & expenditures of all Articles used in the Factory, or does he make those communications immediately to your Office? Is he excused from making Quarterly returns — In short is he to account with me for all or any and what, of his necessary receipts and expenditures, or with yourself. Article ninth of my Instructions says "You will deliver no Arms (except to be repaired, to the Superintendent of the Armory,) without a written Order from the Secretary of War countersigned by the Superintendent of Military Stores. The Hon.^ble Secretary of War his Order to me dated Trenton eight September to deliver to the Order of the Secretary of the Navy seventy Muskets & Bayonets — said Order was not countersigned by yourself. Also your Order to me dated Philadelphia 21^st Sept.^r to forward Six Charleville Muskets suitable for Patterns to the address of Nath.^l Brush Esq.^r Supervisor of the Revenue at Bennington, this Order was not signed by the Secretary of War. I did, and still think I was in the line of my duty, to attend strictly to both these Orders — tho not literally complying with my General Instructions. Article 12^th says. "You will receive no Muskets or Manufactured Articles from the Workshops or Superintendent, into the Magazine without a certificate from the Superintendent correspondent to the annexed form — this form has not come to hand. The Gunstocks mentioned in your letter to me dated 13^th Sept.^r Shiped to my address, came to hand Yesterday. It will at all times afford me pleasure, in attending to your advice and directions — I am Sir with much respect Your Obedient Servant Joseph Williams. P.^r Storekeeper Samuel Hodgdon Esquire