[Address cover: Colonel Samuel Hodgdon / War Office / Philadelphia] [Docket: Edw. Day / Pittsburgh 25 Jan[uary] 99 — [additional text undecipherable]] [Stamp: Received / from / State Dep't. / Nov. 24, 1894. / R.P.O. 401810.] [Postal notation: paid 3] Pittsburgh January 25, 1799.— On the 1^st December 1796, The United States appeared indebted to James Caldwell, late Assistant Commissary [undecipherable] dollars and 23 Cents; & suits instituted [in a moment of discontent] against the Commissary General, [Prevented a consolidation] of this Claim at the general settle=ments made in your Office; ——— The errors of that transaction have since been corrected, ——— The costs Paid; ——— The action abated; his papers submitted for adjustments by his principals, [undecipherable] endorsed thereon we [undecipherable] of the sum due; ——— We understood [the] mode to be consonant to your wishes, ——— but your letter addressed to M^r Caldwell, of the 26^th September 1798, [a copy which is annexed] shows we were mistaken, and his application improper: ——— [undecipherable] Kirkpatrick, [at present,] shows no disposition to advance his private monies for public purposes, and make them the Responsible as Drawer, for Requisitions on the [undecipherable] ——— a fruitless expensive Journey [undecipherable] have made this young man despond ——— [undecipherable] are not deposited with me; ——— May I [undecipherable] trouble you, in a [underline: Cause not] my own, by asking if these difficulties can be obviated with any [undecipherable] of mine, ——— by forming the Receipts according to any suggestion, and [undecipherable: probable reading "resting"] only for Payments on your [undecipherable: probable reading "friendly"] Aid; advice on this subject will be [undecipherable: probable reading "cheerfully"] attended, and with [undecipherable: probable reading "those"] favors gratefully remembered. ——— A younget Brother (more here) will [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable], March for Orleans, in as strong Bowle, should you, or Government have any Commands, ——— arrangements shall be made for their faithful execution, ——— By him who is with sentiments of esteem your Obliged hum^l Ser^t. Edwards Day [flourish] [Col: Samuel Hodgdon,]