[471.] [10,] Philadelphia, 10 June. 1799 The Secretary of War has requested me to take measures immediately for securing payment for the Powder which the United States are entitled to from Mr David Poe and others, for the quantity embezzling by the Person in whose charge it was places as stated in your Return of the first day of June 1797. The quantity called for by my Books charged on the Return made by Capt James Bruff, is as follows, viz: Twenty eight Single Barrels, containing One hundred pounds, and one hundred and twenty Quarter Barrels, containing Twenty five pounds each, the whole equal to Five thousand eight hundred pounds weight. The Secretary thinks this is a particular propriety in presenting the account by you, as though your Mr Poe and his associates communicated their intention of accounting for the whole quantity of powder embezzled when called on, you will please to present the account from to Mr Poe, and communicate his answer as early as convenient that if necessary further steps may be taken to obtain full satisfaction for the Loss sustained by the United States. your most obedient Servant, Capt Staats Morris, Samuel Hodgdon — Baltimore. — Philadelphia, 10 June, 1799 Sir, This letter will be handed you by Captain Staats Morris. It calls for an adjustment of the Powder account, which through him you states to be embezzled by the Keeper of the Magazine under your immediate direction, and for which you and a certain Company engaged to account for to the United States when called on for that purpose. The quantity standing on my Books taken from Captain Bruff's return is Twenty eight Barrels of one hundred pounds each, and [472.] one hundred and twenty Quarter Barrels of twenty five pounds each, the whole equal to Five thousand eight hundred pounds weight. It will be most agreeable to have it received in kind; if this done it most undergo an inspection as will be directive; but if money is intended it is presumed it will be equal to the purchase at the present market price. I am, Sir, your most Obedient Servant— Samuel Hodgdon Mr David Poe. — Philadelphia, 11 June, 1799 Sir, To enable me to make payments on Seven Bills drawn on me by Captain Mathew Ernest, assistant Quarter Master at Detroit, whose drafts are upon acceptance. I request you to furnish me with Seven thousand nine hundred and eighty Dollars; that being the precise amount of the Bills. I am, Sir, your most obedient Serv.^t J. Hodgdon— Mr James Miller, Agt for the 2 M. G. Philadelphia, 12 June, 1799 Sir, I have received your letter of the 10^th instant, inclosing an abstract of articles purchased by Ebenezer Stevens, agent for the War Department in New York, in the month of March 1799. also, your letter of the 11^th instant, relative to the twa Artillery Coats delivered Capt. Samuel Gates by Samuel Winchester Contractor, and which has been admitted in his account. The proper entries will be made on both immediately. I am your most obedient Servant Samuel Hodgdon William Simmons— Samuel Hodgdon Accountant