Philadelphia 1^st Febry 1799 Sir, A certain Jacob Death was hired in this City to go to Pittsburg to assist in building Gallies. he for a while acted with integrity and honor, and was of course considered as an acquisition in the business in which he was employed. In this last epidemic he lost his wife and one child, and obtained on furlough from Pittsburg to make provision for the remains of his family. Having done this he applied to me to be furnished with an advance on his pay to enable him to return. The enclosed copy of his recpt shews he recieved forty dollars. he did return to Pittsburg where he staid only a few days without offering himself to be employed for the Public, or accounting in any manner for the monies received and then absented himself altogether. To day, I am informed he is in Baltimore in the employ of a Mr Price Ship builder. I am now to solicit your assistance in recovering the money for the United States, and on their account take the liberty to trouble you with the business. Will you be kind enough to call on Mr Price to know whether he can be accountable for the debt, in a reasonable time, or otherwise arrest Death & secure repayment from him, or in any other way secure payment of the Debt. You will excuse the liberty I have taken, as I have no commercial Agent, or particular friend in Baltimore on whom I could call. Your being a public Officer countenances the application. I am Sir Your most obedient Servant Samuel Hodgdon John Kelly Esq^r Supervisor Baltimore --- Philadelphia 2^d February 1799 Sir, To discharge my acceptances on ten Bills drawn on me, by the Quarter Master General and Assistants I request a Warrant for Eight thousand, Six hundred and fifty six dollars to be charged to him as usual. Doll. 8656.— I am Sir Your most obedient Servant Samuel Hodgdon James McHenry Esq^r Secretary of War