Now I have all four pages. Page 1 is an archive placeholder indicating illegibility, page 2 is the address/endorsement panel, and pages 3–4 are the letter body. Let me transcribe. --- [undecipherable: docketing notations, upper right] [undecipherable: address panel text] [undecipherable: lower notations] Springfield Oct^br. 10^th 1799 Sir, In compliance with your request of the 9 Ultimo would informe you that the Chest of [undecipherable] has been forwarded from hear by the way of [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] M^r [undecipherable] in Philadelphia [undecipherable] when it come [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] may be taken out and [undecipherable] and that you would informe me of [undecipherable] your [undecipherable]— The cost of a Musket as we estimate it here is as follows vis the Barrel fit to stock ——————— $2–50 [undecipherable] – [undecipherable] & polished ——————— 2 50 [undecipherable] fit to stock ——————— 1 — [undecipherable] ——————— 0 75 Stock & Stocking a musket ——————— 1 — Ramrod ——————— 0– 34 [undecipherable] a musket after the Stock ——————— 0– [undecipherable] $10– 00 The Sum of ten dollars includes every kind of expense on the musket. With respects to improvements in our business would observe the [undecipherable] generally is better executed and with more dispatch and less [undecipherable] than heretofore, as the workmen grow more expert in there [undecipherable]— And particularly would mention the improvements made [undecipherable] the barrels– It being now done in less time and with [undecipherable] expense– and better executed– The Side plates are now cut of rod iron in perfect Shape and at a very [undecipherable] rate— [undecipherable] barrels we have a turning Lathe that is almost compleat to turn them in–and are in [undecipherable] hopes it will answer a very valuable purpose and make a Saving of the cost of Grind[undecipherable] and labour— The unsuccessful attempts in Machinery are few [undecipherable] as we have had in [undecipherable] instances to do the work two or three times over before it answered the purpose which of co[urs]e made it expensive. I cannot perhaps better satisfy your inquiries respecting the improvements and dispatch made in our business then by saying that from October the first 1798 to April the 1– 1799 being [undecipherable] months we made 1215 muskets, from April the first–99 to October the 1–99 being six m[onths] we have made with but 14 or 15 additional hands to what [undecipherable] had in the first six months [undecipherable]– making an increase of 1065 muskets the last Six Months– And that [undecipherable] with another fourteen [undecipherable] each working d[ay]— The works are now compleat and as [undecipherable] on I can judge [undecipherable]ially carried on– I would mention that there is about five hundred burst and refuse Barrels & two or three hundred Bayonets and about the same number of Ramrods that are on hand which might be [undecipherable] for considerable if orders were given to Col. Williams as my [undecipherable] for that purpose– they are entirely useless to the Public and lay in our way– and if [undecipherable] might be put up so as to answer a much better purpose than a [undecipherable] Number of the Army now [undecipherable] [undecipherable] hands of the Militia and in my Apprehension would be better for the Government to [undecipherable] them than to lay on hand and be eaten up with rust— I am Sir With greatest respect and Esteem your most [undecipherable] humble Serv[ant] David Ames [Col. Samuel Hodgdon] [Received from State [undecipherable] Nov. 2[undecipherable] R.P.O. [undecipherable]]