New York 21^st January 1799 — Sir I have received a letter from the Secretary of War, in answ[er] to mine on the subject of compensation for my services, he writes, and speaks handsomely to me, of two or three methods, either by a salary, or a Commission per Centum on my disbursements, and wished me to give him my own Ideas on the [undecipherable] I have answered it, as polite as I could, and preferred a Commission, that is, for buying, and superintending all matters in the line of military matters, which I wrote him right to be in my idea Five P^er Cent — that you may [undecipherable] of the business with propriety, inclosed you have an Extr[act] from my Letter, to him of the 15^th Inst. General Hamilton advises me to have a Salary; he does not know my business, nor the expenses of my family; Suppose the Secretary of War will advise with you, on the Subject of my Letter — Inclosed you have my acct of expenses on Wadder Shot and Implements, Shipped for your [undecipherable], with the necessary Vouchers, and for which please to forward me a remittance I am with sentiments of esteem Dear Sir Your most obed^t Serv^t. [signature: Wm [undecipherable]] [address leaf: Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r / Intendant of military Stores / Philadelphia] [stamp: Received from State Dep't. Nov. 24, 1894. R.P.O. 401810.] --- Extract from my Letter of the 15^th Inst. to the Secretary of War — " On the Subject of Compensation for my own services, I can only say — " With respect to a Salary — I conceive, that what Government would consent, to allow for my services, would not be sufficient, for the maintenance of my family — and I am utterly at a loss, to name a Stipend that might be allowed and at the same time, an adequate Compensation — if my whole time and attention must be [underline: devoted] to this object — " With respect to a Commission — If my agency consisted of [underline: Purchases] only, a Commission thereon of Two and Onehalf per Centum would be sufficient: And if the amount was considerable, perhaps, less would be an equivalent for my trouble: But to attend to, and transact what I have done, every day since my appointment, my Commission ought to be [underline: Five P^er Centum] — The Purchasing, being the least part of the duties of my agency; which has taken the whole of my time and superintendance; so much, that I have been obliged to comm[undecipherable] the management of my Commercial business, almost wholly to my [undecipherable]. " It is a fact, which cannot escape my observation, that if the Agent for the Navy Department in this City, received only One & a half per Centum on his Purchases, it would amount to more than a Commission of Five P^er Centum on the Sum of my disbursements — " and, I presume, you will see, that the Degree of trouble and attn. is in no respect similar, or in proportion — " My Commercial business must naturally suffer, if my Public employment takes up my time entirely — it has been worth to me at least Seven to Eight Thousand Dollars P^er Year, and if I had only to make purchases for Government, I could not be deranged, but operate simply, as an extensive Commission business — But if my Public Agency is of a Nature, to require my absence from the Seat of my own immediate Concerns, almost constantly, it involves much consideration, and, I candidly declare myself incompetent, to add further on the Subject — I prefer submitting these Premises, to your own reflection, and Judgment, and have no doubt, but you will name a Compensation to my satisfaction !