and one and a half rations a day ought to be allowed — If you approve of his being thus employed, and request it, I will sketch out what I conceive to be suitable instructions to make his services truly valuable to the United States, and submit them for your consideration — If engaged he may immediately go forward with the materials and tools providing for the Post — With sentiments of Esteem I am Sir Your most Obed^t Serv^t Samuel Hodgson [James McHenry Esq^r] Philadelphia 31 Oct^r 1798. Sir, I duly rec'd your letter of the 6^th instant with the Papers that accompanied it but hitherto have had no time to examine and reply to them, being alone in my Office on account of the prevailing fever and having various business to attend to. You will recollect a General Return of all public property at Springfield is required of you on entering on the duties of your appointment, of course those in the hands of the Superintendant of Armourers are to be included — You certainly are to give the Superintendant a receipt for every article he has on hand; without this they cannot appear in your Return — with your receipt he must close his accounts to the time you mention — after that period he will account to you for the Expenditure of all public property put into his hands — All articles procured in the Factory will be procured by you consequently they will be received into the public Stores and from thence delivered to the Superintendant agreeably to your instructions — In ordinary cases relative to the delivery of any article under your care you will be governed by the strict letter of your instructions in extraordinary ones like the present a latitude must be given and prudence must direct, I shall [undecipherable: probable reading "deem"] this apology as conclusive and pass the irregular Vouchers you mention to your credit, which will be a justification of your conduct