Supervisor's Office, Boston November 12^th 1798. Sir An absence from my office for some time during the late Epidemic here, and several impediments since have prevented me replying till now to your letter of the 29^th of September. It was received here with the box of patterns the 6^th of October but your letter being directed to me as merchant not as Supervisor, and the box coming from N York, my Clerks supposing [interlineation: the letter] upon private business, as also one which followed some time after from [undecipherable: probable reading Swantwout] of N York, which also was not directed to the Supervisor, they did not open neither [undecipherable] nor the box until my return from the Country, which was in the course [undecipherable]. The articles turned out right according to Invoice. I am with respect, Sir Your obedient Servant J Jackson, Supervisor Samuel Hodgdon Esq Superintendent of military Stores, Philadelphia [Address leaf: Boston [circular postal stamp] Jonathan Jackson Esq^r / mail / 13 / Samuel Hodgdon, Esq / Superintendent of military Stores / Philadelphia] [Docket: Jonathan Jackson / Supervisor / No 90 — Newbury S[t] / Boston November [12] / 1798 / [undecipherable] for [undecipherable]]