[address panel: Sam'l Hodgdon Esq^r / at / Philadelphia] [docket, upper right: [undecipherable] 1799 / The Sec^y of War / [undecipherable] for him —] [postal seal] [archival received stamp: Received / State Dep^t / [undecipherable] / R.P.O. 401819] New York 18 Dec^r. 1799 Sam'l Hodgdon Esq^re. Sir I am favord with your l^tr of 14 Inst. and with respect to the expences incurr'd in Shipment of military Stores to Gov^r Island. I have debited your acc^t for the Am^t as will appear with my account here inclos'd with you — by which you will perceive I have not been paid therefor — I have also an Account against the U States. for my Commission on purchasing ten Ton of Powder by order of the Sec^y of Treasury, who observe I should be allow'd a Commission agreeable to what was given M^r [undecipherable] for like Purchase, the am^t thereof on $10,000 at 1½ p^ct is $150— together with my expence & trouble in examining a Parcel Purchas'd by M^r [undecipherable] is $50— The amount being $200— I shall charge you of and make no doubt that on your application to The Sec^y of the Treasury the business will be adjusted, It is to be observed this transaction took place, prior to my appoint^mt as Agent to the War Department — I have wrote to the Sec^y of the Treasury on the Subject, but have not receiv'd a [undecipherable: probable reading "Reply"] and have to request your attention thereto. I perceive by your letter that the Box of Arms has arrived with you, from Springfield — I am Sir Your Hble Serv^t [signature: undecipherable] I have not bought the Powder of such quality for the Barbary Powers on acct of its quality — but [an] ounce of it which I have examined threw a 24 p^d shot 35 yards — I dont think the mode adopted for proving Cannon Powder, will afford a fair proof thereby — I wish you to borrow of the Sec^y of War his Proovet that will prove 3 ounces at a time and will thank you to inform Col. Pickering of the Substance of this — The Proovet if obtain'd as requested, you will please forward me — Your favor of 14^th Inst. is at hand [undecipherable]