Philadelphia 19^th November 1798 Sir, On the 7^th October last in consequence of a letter received from the Secretary of the Treasury, I forwarded a Box to your address by the way of New Yorke. containing 8 Charleville Muskets to be used as models & patterns for a number making for the U.S. in your State: the melancholy state of this City and New York at and since [strikethrough: that time] has thrown every thing into confusion; the box in question is a striking evidence of this tho directed as plain as letters could mark it, under various pretences (which untill very lately I knew nothing of) it has been detained by some and handed about by others, until at length it was lost sight of altogether. I have been obliged to send a person in quest of it, he has found it, and once more put it in train to meet you shortly. M^r Melancton Smith Merchant, in New York is specially charged with it, and I hope & believe you will receive it in 4 or 5 days from this time. I am mortified that a business so simple in its nature should have been conducted to the injury of the States or the Contractors with you. In usual times, with less trouble and attention to myself, I could have sent the Box from one end of the Continent to the other; I hope however the disappointment will not prove very injurious to any concerned. If the Muskets should not be with you by the time mentioned, I wish you to write M^r Smith and enquire for them I am Sir, Your most Ob^t Servant Samuel Hodgdon John S. Dexter Esq^r Supervisor Providence R. Island.