[Address panel: Co.^l Samuel Hodgdon / Phila.^a] [Docket, upper right: [undecipherable] / Morristown 23^d / May 1799] [Stamp: Received from Statu. Dep't. Nov. 24 1894. B.P.O. 401810.] Boonton Co.^l Samuel Hodgdon 23.^d May 1799 Sir Your favor of the 16.^th Instant directed to J.J. Faesch came to hand this day per post. he is now so Ill that we have not the least expectation of his recovery. We therefore being interested with him in the Contract with the Public, take the earliest Opportunity to Answer You & inform You of the above, which we trust will be a sufficient reason for not Entering more fully into the Business at this Time. We cannot however Omit expressing our Surprise, & Unacquiesence in Your Report of Condemned Shott in New York & Eliz.^a Town. — All we wish for is a fair & candid Settlement According to our Contract with the Public, When that is done we shall patiently Submit to the heavy losses which we incurred by it. — We Wish You Would defer Your Report Untile we can have an Opportunity of Answering You more fully. — M. Nord attended at Eliz.^a Town 2 days at the Time You appointed to Inspect the Shott, but You did not come — We are Sir, Your Most Obed. Serv.^ts — David Ford Geo. D. Brinckerhoff