busings fully — I shall write you again shortly. — I am, Sir, Michau G. Houdin, your most obedient Servant, Samuel Hodgdon, Philadelphia, 16 March, 1799. Sir, M^r John Harris, public Store Keeper, complains that a Captain M'Knight of your Corps, refuses to sign certain receipts for cloathing delivered him for the Marines onboard the Sloop Delaware previous to her first Cruise, which men were at the time under his command. The reasons for the refusal I am not informed of; but as the vouchers are indispensible necessary to be filed in my Office to support the charge, they must be signed by somebody. I pray you to enquire into the business, and take such action on it as the case requires — I shall take no step until I hear from you — your most Obedient Servant Major William Burrows — Samuel Hodgdon — Philadelphia, 16 March, 1799. Sir, I have just received your letter of the 6^th instant. I have since conversed with the Secretary of War on the contents. He thinks it best to remove the Stores from Shipperstwon to you, as soon as you are prepared to receive and safely deposite them, as you intimated your belief that you can now make an arrangement to insure their safe keeping until the Arsenal is built, and for other reasons I think the removal should take place immediately, and I accordingly enclose an order on Major Lingham for their delivery, and also a letter to him on the subject which you will please to send to him. As soon as possible, I will get Lingham's account up, and send you a statement of what he ought to have on hand. There are Camp Kettles he has in abundance; the general order will enable you to make partial drafts until the removal of the whole can be accomplished — you will provide the means for transporting the Stores, and for this purpose perhaps it may be necessary for you to go to Shipperstown — this you can best determine — I wrote M Brindley yesterday and suggested some new ideas relative to the Canal, and requested him to repair to the spot as soon as possible to enable you to make your final report on that business — Fearing you may be in want of the two Tons of Iron before it can be got to you by way of Baltimore I have sent the whole in one [undecipherable] Waggon from here — [undecipherable] — the waggon started to day, and with Hunter & [undecipherable] — the waggoner appears anxious to return to his duty, and his wife who appears anxious to return to his duty, has induced me to advance him Thirteen Dollars more to enable him to return — I have further engaged that you shall make the waggoner a reasonable allowance for the farriage and trouble he may have with the family and goods — I shall make no further advance except as requisite to [undecipherable]'s wife — I am, glad to find tranquility is restored — the Secretary says he will support you at all events — yours S. Hodgdon [John Mackey]