Philadelphia 24 Dec^r 1798 Sir I have received your letter of the 19^th ins^t & presume your continuing to procure the Clothing for the Apprentices under your care will not militate with your other more important duties, if that is the case it is certainly right that you should continue to furnish them & you will accordingly do it: let the bills particularly specify for what use the Articles are purchased, and after being certified by you how they have been applied deliver them to Col^o Williams for payment. Convinced as you seem fully to be, that the taking apprentices is advantageous for the U. S. you may safely engage the 2 or 3 lads that now offer if effected you will report it immediately I have conversed with the Secretary of War on these subjects this morning, and he approves what I have written I am Sir your most Ob^t Serv^t Captⁿ D. Ames Samuel Hodgdon Sir Philadelphia 24^th Dec^r 1798 In a Waggon driven by one Jacob Chapman who left this City yesterday, I sent to your address the Articles of Clothing mentioned in the enclosed receipt. Chapman does not go to Winchester but engages to leave the package with Major James Stevenson, Brigade Inspector of the District. from this notice you will be able to judge the