Philadelphia 1^st April 1799 Sir, Your order for the thousand Gunstocks due as Shipped as requested on board the Sloop Mary, Nathan Smith Master, who sails this day. Enclosed you have his bill of lading; Propes they will get safely and speedily to hand. I am Sir Your most ob^t Ser^t M^r Eli Whitney New Haven Connecticut Samuel Hodgdon [flourish] Philadelphia 2^d April 1799 Sir, By order of the Secretary of War I send to your address the articles of Cloathing insribed in the enclosed Invoice, you will be pleased to acknowledge the receipt of them, and if they are found to agree with the Invoice, you will please to pay the freight agreeable to the sum stipulated in the enclosed bill of Lading — if you favour of the 29^th Ult^o came duly to hand. I am sorry to find Hallem had sailed for Jamaica; will it not be well to enquire of his owners, or Persons who do his business to know whether he may not have left the articles with them, or whether they can give any information respecting them. — I will take an opportunity to converse with the Secretary of the Treasury on the subject you mention and advise you of the result — I have heard nothing