[309] Philadelphia 7^th Dec^r 1798 Dear Sir Your favor of the 30^th Ultimo is before me — I am much obliged by your kind attention to my letters. The punctuality of the Cladencies must be mutually beneficial and I love to contribute to such bargains — The Draft in favor of General Nevil shall be duly honored — I believe the Secretary will at length do justice to your claim, of this more hereafter — on these and all other occasions you may safely rely on my Candid opinion and assistance if necessary — Congress is in session, and the President will meet them to morrow, the great Council of arrangement have nearly finished the result you shall know as early as possible after promulgation. Enclosed you have another receipt for an advance of thirty Dollars on M^cOnners order — If I can contrive the matter I shall send on a small package of Garden Seeds to Col^e Sargent, through you I shall try to forward them by post to your address — and in that case, as he has been unfortunate heretofore I shall pray you to take special care by whom you forward them to know they get safely to hand — I am Sir Y^r Most Obed Servant Samuel Hodgdon Major Isaac Craig PS Colonel Pickering just informs me of a private conveyance for the above directly to the Natchez, I shall try to get the seeds on in this way