attending it ought in my opinion to be borne by the Public— My engagement with him was confined to the receiving, Safekeeping and delivering such Powder &Stores only as were under the immediate direction of the War Department— indeed at the time of renting the Magazine I had no reason to expect, that any thing of the kind would be made subject to any other order In justice to M^r Fisher I have made the foregoing observations— I am Sir Your Most Obed^t Servant Samuel Hodgdon Tench Francis Esq^r Philadelphia 17^th December 1798 Sir I will thank you to inform me what prospect there is of obtaining payment on the Account rendered you by John Harris, Public Store keeper for One hundred Common Tents with Poles amounting to 1093 ⁶²/₁₀₀ Doll. The Tents were used by the health Office, but the Commonwealth of Penns^a is made chargeable with them by your receipt and you I conclude will make the payment. I am Sir your most Ob^t Servant Samuel Hodgdon Clement Biddle Esq^r Q. M. G. Penns^a