Harpers ferry December 9^th 1799 Dear Sir— M^r Annelly has been absent from [this] place during the month[s] of March, and according to the Secretary's instructions to me, could not be [spared] for that time, though he alledges he was imployed on publick duty — [undecipherable] [ad]justment of his account is that you would certify times that he was doing publick duty at Philad[elphia] — that [undecipherable] for the Secretary directed me to suspend payments until that certificate should be exhibited — If, therefore, you can do it, be pleased to oblige M^r Annelly & me by forwarding [it] — at the close of [undecipherable] I shall write to [you] fully — [undecipherable] [signature undecipherable] [Address panel: Samuel Hodgdon Esquire] --- Dear Sir— Before the inclosed was sealed I forgot to request you would favour me with a Copy of your [undecipherable: probable reading "Clasps"] in the M. & D[?]. Dep^t. be pleased to forward a Copy as soon as convenient, for I find [it] difficult to adjust my accounts without one. [undecipherable] Hodgdon [undecipherable] about the last of January you shall have my gen[er]al Returns --- Sir Harpers Ferry December 9^th [1799] M^r Mackey has been so kind as to let me write a few lines in his letter to You of this Date/ when I arrived hear I found I could have no accomoda[tions] for my family here I therefore returned to Phil[adelphia] to make them Compostable there as they wa[s] [prepared] for their Journey hear as soon as I [could] advise them they could be Recceved/ on my retu[rn] I mediately waited on You and [was] the next day imployed by Your orders on M^r Nicholso[n] then sick/ to overhaul the old Musket Barr[els] in the Store near arch Street and afterwards to assist M^r Nicholson inspecting Stocks Mu[sk]ets and in purchasing Iron for this place [undecipherable] in the interim [to] Gather my Children to board [with my] Motherinlaw Compostibly fixed in New York [and] returned here/ I hope Sir You will be so Go[od] as to Give me A Certificate for that Serv[ice] I am Sir Your Very Samuel Hodgedon Esq^r Humble Serv[ant] Tho^s Annely