[Received / State from / Naval Dep't / No. 31-33 / R.F.O 401310] [On [undecipherable] Service] [undecipherable docket notation] Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r Philadelphia. Pittsburgh 20^th Dec^m 1799 Sir, I have received Your favours of the 11^th & 15^th inst accompanied by a letter addressed to Col. Strong which shall go forward by first Conveyance. With respect to Stationary, I have Endeavoured to conform to a Regulation made by Gen^t Wayne in 1792 but have frequently been obliged to depart from it occasioned by Posts being Garrisoned by Small detachments Commanded by Subalterns who always Claim an allowance equal to that of a Company — I trust I shall Shortly be able to transmit you the Several Papers required but shall be obliged to postpone a part of that Business till after the departure of the Quarter Mast Gen who at present keeps me busily Employed — The Return for the last Quarter of this year is in hands & will be transmitted I expect by the first Post in January — It is certainly a pleasing consideration that we here in Congress this Session both a Majority of men & Talents in favour of Government. The two Pattern Muskets mentioned formerly are arrived and which I shall advise the Superintendant of M^t Gallatin's Manufactory — Last Monday a Detachment of the 2^d Reg^t arrived here under the Command of Cap^t Shoemaker Consisting of upwards of 80 Men generally well looking fine fellows. they are to Winter here — I am Sir Your Obedient Servant [signature]