[Received from State Dep't. Nov. 24. 1894. R.P.G. 401810.] [Cover: Dec 26 | 453 | Samuel Hodgdon Co. | [undecipherable] & military [undecipherable] | Philadelphia] New York [undecipherable] Decemb[er] [undecipherable] I am at a loss what to charge Government for my Services as Agent, and Superintendent of all that has been done here — In [undecipherable] given up my private business, and attended to Public matters enti[rely] — have inspected the Troops, Arms, and Equipments; proved and [undecipherable: probable reading Repacked] Gunpowder; proved Cannon, Sht. Shells &c. and superintended the mounting of all the Artillery; provided Implements &c and occupied a part of my Store as a Laboratory or — Requested General Hamilton while in Philadelphia, to make enquiry for me, but he was too busy to attend to it. I must therefore desire this favor of you. — You must be sensible, that my pay ought to be a living, for [undecipherable] without such employment, but no Person here, had knowledge of the business. A Blind Engineer came here, and got four to five Dollars per day, and after all he did, it was left to Gen^l. Hamilton and myself, to fortify in whatever mode we pleased. I trust, no part of the United States can shew such good [undecipherable] and Implements of every kind, or better Batteries, Furnaces &c in — I am troubling you with what I ought not, knowing you have enough of your own Business to attend to, but I flatter myself you will oblige me in this Instance — I do not want Government to give me a fortune, but a reasonable Salary, is preferable in my Idea, to a Commission — as I hardly know what charge to make for Superintendence, in comparison of which, this making [undecipherable] is nothing. Not a Day pass'd over my head, during the Sickness, but I visited the public Works, and attended to the Shipment of Powder Shot &c according to the Directions I received — even [undecipherable] the Navy agent will gain more by his Commission for [undecipherable] Copper and Iron, for the two Frigates building here, than all my Commission would amount to, if allowed only a Commission on the business I have transacted. I am with esteem Sir Your most ob[edien]t Serv[an]t [signature] [I wish this] Letter to be kept to yourself Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r.