[Docketing, written sideways at top right:] [undecipherable] November [undecipherable] [Received from State Dep't. Nov. 24, 1894. R.P.O. 401310.] [Address:] Honble to the Samuel Hodgdon Superintendent of Military Stores 17 Philadelphia Springfield Novem^r the 11^th [undecipherable] Sir I have been honoured with your favour of the [undecipherable] Instant and Sincerely hope our muskets when they come to hand will not disappoint your expectation— We have thought this some time past that a large Iron press of a suitable construction would be very usef[undecipherable] in punching our locks and mounting and that some par[undecipherable] of the work might be cut to the patterns with less trouble than they are now done by us— But it being exceedingly difficult to obtain any good castings in these parts have thought you would excuse the trouble in desiring you to be so kind as to procure us one made after the pattern of M^r M^cCarmoths in your City as far as tis constructed for strength and usefulness and send it to Newyork or Newhaven as soon as may be convenient (as the River will probably be froze up here before it can come to hand)— If tis not in your power to procure one we will make an attempt here tho not so encouraging as I could wish— I am Sir With the greatest respect and esteem your most Obedient friend & servant David Ames [Received from State Dep't. Nov. 24, 1894. R.P.O. 401310.]