Philadelphia 9 March 1799^th Sir I have received your letter your baggage was forwarded on the 6^th instant in a waggon belonging to & drove by Andrew Mars. I am glad to find the Horse answers as I expected — Cushing would have been answerable Should he have turned out otherwise than good — I am Sir Your Most Obed^t Serv^t Samuel Hodgdon [Colⁿ John McKee Pittsburgh] Philadelphia 17^th March 1799 Sir, I have mentioned to the Secretary of War what you hinted to me relative to the debt due from your firm to the United States — He desires me to inform you, that what you suggestion relative to the Trace of Land on which the Powder Mill and Stores are erected Strikes him agreeably — If the public can have the Tract with its improvements at a fair valuation, the Secretary has no hesitation in saying he will agree to the purchase; the nature of the debt is such that on account of your concern I anxiously wish it may be satisfied without further publicity — Let me hear from you immediately, and fully and candidly state what you meant me to understand When you spoke to me on the subject — I am Sir, your most obedient servant Samuel Hodgdon — [Israd Wheelen, Esq^r.]