Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r Phil^a New York May 5^th 1799 Sir We duly rec^d yours of 23^d Inst. The tho which was unpacked was marked N^o 2. Commanding Officer at Fort Niagara the times were marked the same — We have a demand which has been for more half a year against the U States for $2400. They withhold this amount for about $400 which is in dispute. As it is probable this business will be referred to you — The price of the old ration according to Contract was 15¾ Cents. The ration consisted of ^p ration { 1^st Beef . . . . . . . . 6 1^st Flour . . . . . . . 6 ½ Gill Rum . . . . . 2½ 14½ 2^d Soap . 18 . . . 36 1^st Candles . . . . . . 25 2 Oz Vinegar 5 . . . 10 1 D^o Salt . . . . . . . 4 75 is 3¼ 15¾ The following Addition was Made ¼^th Beef @6 . . . . c ew 1.5 2 oz flour @ 6 . . . . . 7½ ½ Gill Rum . . . . . . 2½ 4,7½ 2^d Soap . 36 ¼^th Candles . 12½ 2 Oz Vincom. 12 1 d^o Salt . . . 4 64¾ Mills 3,3¾ Makes an addition of 53¾ Mills. M^r Francis allowed but 4 cents which makes the monstrous deduction of 25 Cent from our just demand. They might with equal propriety deduct ½ Cent from the Ration. Our just demand was as p^r Statement above 207 Mills but in consequence of information from Some Officer who arrived from Phil^a in Aug^t that the Sec^y at War had decided that 1^c was to be added to the ration [strikethrough: p^r] charged but 203 Mills [underline: we consider this as a grievance] — But they now want to reduce this price to 19¾ Cents. We must inevitably be a loser by the Contract if this deduction is made — We have also paid Officers & Waiters Rations to a large Amount in Cash 203 Mills added to all this we have lain out of our money for near half a year. We are your. Obd^t Serv^ts Richbell & Mel Smith [address leaf: Alexanton Smith, 5^th May 1799, Complains &c &c on his Station account, Recd] [postmark: MAY 4] [addressed: Samuel Hodgdon Esquire, Philadelphia]