Philadelphia 4^th February 1799 Sir Fifteen hundred weight of the best Iron for upper Bands to be rolled four and a half inches wide and the twelfth part of an inch thick, also five hundred weight for trigger Plates five tenths of an Inch wide, and two & an half tenths of an inch thick is wanted at the Public Works in Springfield, and cannot be procured short of this City — Will you be pleased to order it purchased and put into the Public Store for transportation? The Powder at Springfield is represented to be in want of some New Casks before on any emergency it can be safely transported — I would recommend that Colonel Williams be directed to procure One hundred Casks suitable for the above purpose — If you direct it I will give him the dimensions, and direct the kind proper for use — I am Sir James M^cHenry Esq^r Secretary of War Your Most Obedient Servant, Samuel Hodgdon Sir Philadelphia 4^th Feb^r 1799 I have received your letter of the 27^th ultimo enclosing your returns for the Armoury Department. In my letter to you under date of 8^th October last, I mentioned the necessity of your giving M^cCanes a receipt for every species of property on hand at the time you commenced your agency at the Post, to enable him to close his Accounts to that time, that being done he should receipt to you for them, & he is afterwards to account with you, & you to the Public for their expenditure You will please to provide 100 Casks to shift the Powder into as occasion may require, of the following kinds & dimensions Viz^t To give full room for the Powder to shift when rolled, the casks should be 28 inches long, & 14 inches [undecipherable] at the head, calculating from out to out. They should be made of the best White Oak Staves, well seasoned & well bound with the most durable hoops, and if possible they should have two copper hoops at each head. It will be best to have a small bung hole, to try the Powder through when necessary, without this the heads must be started which ought not to be done. Casks of the above dimensions will hold 100, net weight of Powder. The Stationary shall be forwarded with your Prov, & both as quick as possible. I am Sir Your most ob^t Servant, Samuel Hodgdon Col^t Williams Springfield Philadelphia 5^th Feb^y 1799 Sir, I have looked over the Accounts and vouchers which you put into my hands, I find them of such date, and kinds as forbids my adjusting and charging them on the funds provided for the present Quarter Masters Department. I consider them as fugitive claims which can only be settled by the Auditor, or perhaps more properly by the Accountant to the War Department — I return the Papers entire. I am Sir Your Most Obed^t Servant Samuel Hodgdon Cap^t Edward Butler