[Docket, top right, rotated:] [undecipherable] Ames / 19 Decemb[er] / [undecipherable] 1790 / [undecipherable] informations or / [undecipherable] [Stamp: Received / [undecipherable]] [Filing notation: A] 1790. [Address:] [undecipherable] Hodgdon Esq[r] / [undecipherable] Cap[?]. / Philadelphia Springfield Dec.^r 19^th 1798 Sir, Having received no answer to my letter of the 13 Ultim^o, permit me to repeat a part of it, and desire leave to ask wheather the Cloathing for the Apprentices is to be considerd as Articles for the use of the Factory, and to be procured by Col^o Williams, or wheather it is my duty to doe it agreeable to the Indentures; I am bound to adhear to and furnish him with a bill for payment. — by the indenture I am bound to provide for them both in health and sickness — and to me these lads, their parents and Guardians look for its fulfillment; — if it is not my duty to provide for them according to the indenture of course should they not be transferd to Col^o Williams, there is now two or three lads that offer themselves for Apprentices; it is beyond a doubt the cheapest and most advantagious help that can be procured; and too much attention cannot be paid to encourage it; — wish you would inform me who is to indent with these lads; and provide for those now engaged, as it can avail nothing for me to bind my self on one part of an indenture unless it is in my power to comply with it — I hope you will forgive this trouble and furnish me an answer as soon as you can I am Sir your most Obedient and very Humble Serv^t David Ames Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r