[Cover endorsement: Major Isaac Craig / 23 February 1798 / Rec'd D. March] [Received from State Nov. 24, 1804. E.P.O. 401310.] [(39)] Pittsburg February 23^d 1798 1/k Your letter of the 16^th instant is this moment come to hand accompanied by News Papers as usual and a letter to the Quarter Master General which is sent to him. I have again to request your attention to a subject on which I wrote you on the 20^th January 1797 and in order that the business may be now well understood I have herewith enclosed several Extracts of letters together with a copy of a letter from the Secretary of War relative to that subject, and altho' I have no reason to doubt your having paid the proper attention to my letter of the 20^th of January 797 by obtaining a patent in the name of the President of the United States for lots N^o 37 & 38 in the town of Waterford, but as all the lots of that Town are subject to a forfeiture if certain buildings are not erected previous to the 17^th of August next, it is therefore necessary that application be made to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, that these lots may be exempted from that condition of improvement as any buildings erected thereon would defeat the intention for which they were purchased by uncommoding the Fort. I have till within these few days expected to have had the pleasure of paying you a visit during the latter end of the winter partly with a view to make a final settlement of my Commissary Business, in that case would have brought with me such papers as are now on hand relative to that department. But as it is now certain that I cannot quit my post I have this day transmitted four packets containing Vouchers of Issues of Provisions at Presqu'isle. Packet N^o 1. For July, August & September 1796      N^o 2 " October, November & December "      N^o 3. " Jan^y & from 19. April to 31^st May 797      N^o 4. From 1^st Feb. to 12. April 1797                         Also a Return of Provisions at Presqu'isle and le Bœuf from July 1796 to May 1797 inclusive. Three other packets remain which will be forwarded by next Post or perhaps by Major Kirkpatrick who will set out for your City in a few days. I have this day found it necessary to draw on you at ten days sight in favor of John Neville for One thousand dollars which be pleased to pay and charge as usual. Two short cast Iron 24 pounders Cannon were on the 19^th delivered by Daniel Fisher. I have not yet had any information from M^r Woodbridge respecting the goods carried by M^r Clintock, but I shall shortly have an opportunity of seeing M^r Woodbridge and shall then endeavor to have the business settled. I am Sir Your obed. Humb Serv. [undecipherable] Samuel Hodgdon Esq. --- [Enclosures] [Extracts of several letters received from Craig D.Q.M.G. relative to lots purchased — Feb. 23 / Rec'd D. March 1797] Extract of a letter from Craig D.Q.M.G. to the Sec^y of War dated 26^th Aug 1796 — "On making choice of Grounds on which to erect a Block House & Barracks &c at Le Bœuf, I found the most suitable of the small squares reserved for Public use connected with two lots in the Town of Waterford, Viz. Lots N^o 37 & 38. These lots being offered for Sale at Auction by the Commissioners, to wit, Gen. Irwin & Geo. Willson, I applied to them to reserve them for the use of the United States, but was told by them it was not in their Power to reserve any lots that were advertised, but advised me to purchase and said that they had no doubt of the Legislature of Pennsylvania's ceding those lots together with the other Squares to the United States on proper application. I have therefore to beg your attention to that business. These lots were purchased in my name, Viz. N^o 37. at 135 dollars & N^o 38. at 150 dollars part of which to be paid in three Months. But I presume an application to the Governor the conditions of Sale will be dispensed with till an application can be made to the Legislature." — Extract from same to same dated 30^th December 1796. — "My letter of the 26^th August last informed you of my having purchased at public auction of the Commissioners of the State of Pennsylvania two lots at Le Bœuf which I considered essentially necessary for the United States to possess being adjoining and connected with the Grounds on which the public buildings are erected. I presume on your Application to the Legislature of Pennsylvania (which is now in Session) these lots will be ceded to the United States and I have presumed, Sir, that you will make the necessary application." — Copy of a letter from The Secretary of War to "Major Craig" dated Jan^y 10. 1797. "In reply to that part of your letter of the 30^th December ult^o respecting the two lots of Grounds purchased at Le Bœuf I have to observe, that it does not appear to me an object of such Magnitude, as to claim the attention of the Executive of the United States and the Government of Pennsylvania. You will therefore please to pay the purchase money and obtain a deed in the name of [underline: the President of the United States]." — Extract of a letter from Craig D.Q.M.G. to Col^o Hodgson dated Jan 20. 1797. — "I am this moment favored with a letter from the Secretary of War of the 10^th instant which relates entirely to business that must be transacted in Philadelphia. I have enclosed you a copy and have to request your immediate attention to the business, viz. to obtain a deed in the name of the President of the United States for lots N^o 37 & 38. at Fort Le Bœuf, now the town of Waterford, County of Alleghany. You will please to observe that on making choice of Grounds on which to erect the public Buildings found it necessary to occupy a part of three lots and therefore at the public sale in Pittsburg on the 15^th August last I purchased them for the United States and informed the Secretary of War of it and expected that on application to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, this ground together with an adjoining public Square would have been ceded to the United States. But for reasons assigned by the Secretary of War this has not been done. It is therefore necessary that you be pleased to make application to Clement Biddle esq. who is empowered to transact the business respecting the sale of these lots, and you will find by the account of sales now in Col^o Biddle's Possession that lot N^o 37. was sold at 135 dollars & N^o 38. at 150 dollars both in my name. As soon as you have obtained a deed you will be pleased to transmit it to me in order that it may be recorded in the proper County." —