[Docket, upper right corner: Joseph Williams / No. [undecipherable] / Jan'y 11, 1799] [Stamp: Received from State Dep't. Nov. 24. 1894. R.P.O. 401810.] Samuel Hodgdon Esquire Intendant of Stores Philadelphia Springfield January 11^th 1799. Sir Captain Bryant has shewn me your letter to him under date 23 Nov. with a statement of Military Articles for him to account for; with a request that I would assist him in investigating this business - it has been out of my power till within these few days to afford him any assistance. Though nothing certain can be gathered from his returns, yet I am fully of opinion that many of the principle articles deficient, is owing to proper deductions not being made for deliveries & expenditures. I have advised him, to forward on to you, all his duplicate Receipts, by them I think you will find I am not wrong in my conjecture. many of the muskets received of M^r Arms Sup. of the Armory, have been borne on his Returns. many of which have been lost in proving, by M^r Nicholson - and ought to have been credited. [Marginal note, left margin: us] When we take a view of the manner these stores have been handed down from A. to B. C & D. without ever examining, if the Articles borne on the return, even in the Magazines it is not by any means strange, that many things would over run & others fall short — When I entered on the duties of my office as Store keeper, Capt. Bryant very candidly told me, it was his opinion, the Military stores in the Magazines, would not agree with his return - that he receipted to his predecessor in Office, as they stood on his return. and subsequent to that time they never has been over handed - In regard to the grape shot the number of Boxes in the Store, if I remember right, agreed with his return, but on weighing them separately & deducting the tare, the weight fell short as you have stated in fact great many articles fell short & others over run. — At the time of the Insurrection, in the year 1796 the gov. Troops under the command of Gen. Shepard were principally Arm'd and furnished with Musket Cartridges, both in Sep. & January following, by the particular order of Gen. Shepard; he undoubtedly was authorized to the measure by the Secretary of War I have taken the liberty to write the Gen. requesting him to call on you, and make a fair statement, of the exposure of the Stores at that time, and of Capt. Bryants Judicious conduct on the occasion - I think this will exonerate him from every suspicion of neglect — Embezzlment is out of the question, his Character here is so well established as an honest faithfull Public Servant, as to preclude the necessity of any testimonials of mine — Conscious Virtue & Integrity, is wounded when in the least suspected, such has been his situation ever since receiving your letter, I own with candor that my sentiments are predicated on the principles of friendship, for a faithfull, & an unfortunate old Soldier. I rely on your goodness to pardon the liberty I have taken in this business - I am Sir Most respectfully your obedient Servant Joseph Williams Samuel Hodgdon Esquire