[Administrative notation, upper right:] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 1799 [Address:] [undecipherable] Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r Philadelphia [postal stamp] New York 26 Dec^r 1799 Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r Sir I have duly receiv'd your favor of 24 Inst. and note its contents — M^r McLean has been with me Since I wrote you Respectg the Shots and I am truly Sorry to find. that they are in a very destructive State — many of them Sunk into the earth from 2 to 3 Inch— and they are of a quality much inferior to what are made here — M^r McLeans indisposition has prevented him giving me a true Statement of the Situation of them. but says I shall have it to morrow, at which time I shall write you the particulars in this business — This City is making arrangments, for paying due Honors to the memory of our Deceas- ed, Gen^l Washington, which to take place on Tuesday next. There will be a procession form'd by all the Different Societies, together with the respective military troops, in this place, and an Oration to be deliv'd in one of our Churches, by Governeur Morris Esq^r suitable to the occasion — I am Sir with Respect Your H^ble Serv^t for Eb^d Stevens [undecipherable] N.B. The Compliments of the Season are &c—