[Docket, upper right:] Colo. Joseph Williams D[undecipherable] [undecipherable] 1799 [undecipherable] Springfield &c 18 Annual [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Attendant's [undecipherable] [seal] Philadelphia Springfield Dec. 1^st 1799. Sir I am informed by Sam.^l Lyman Esq.^r that you have the goodness to undertake the Agency of receiving & transmitting the money for this Department in future — this mark of your friendship & politeness, being so accommodating & consonant to my wishes. merits & receives my greatest acknowledgments and shall ever be remembered with pleasure & gratitude — Enclosed is a Power of Attorney appointing you my Agent in this business —. I shall lose no time at the expiration of the year in making out & forwarding on an account of the Work done in the Factory in the year past — The rolled Iron I wrote for some time since, has not come to hand — it is very much wanted — — There is wanted for the Nose of the Engine two pair of brass screws — the difficulty of obtaining them here, induces me to trouble you, to have them made at Philad.^a by the man that made the Engine — he undoubtedly can make these to fit the pipe — I am Sir with the utmost respect Samuel Hodgdon Esq.^r Your Obedient serv.^t Joseph Williams