[Endorsement on cover, rotated: Colonel [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] Sec[retary?] of War / charges a[undecipherable] him [undecipherable]] [Address: Samuel Hodgdon / [undecipherable] / Philadelphia] [Notation: January 3, [undecipherable]] [Received stamp: Received / State Dep't. / from * / No. 24. 1834. / B.P.O. 401810.] Springfield Sept^r 13^th 1800. Sir, In your letter of the 8^th instant you wish me (in confidence) to name to you the Gentleman, to whom I alluded that I had strong suspicions of his taking undue measures to prevent a fair examination into existing troubles at this Post. I cannot substantiate any facts that would implicate him in such a proceeding — but from recent circumstances, my suspicions are [underline: strong] & I believe well [underline: founded] — I hesitate Sir not a moment in confiding in you that confidence you request — the Gentleman to whom I alluded is General William Shepard, Chairman of the Committee to investigate the troubles &c at this Post. Will you be so obliging as to enquire of Mess^rs. Nicholdon & [undecipherable] — the attempt Mr Amos made to bribe them to neglect their duty in proving Musket Barrels, if it is of any importance, I wish you to inform me — that I may cite Mr. A. to appear by himself or his Attourney to be present at taking their evidences. Declaration has been made to the Board — what it is supposed to be their evidence — they may some of them may expect it. Believing that you or the Secretary of War have never been furnished with the charges I exhibited to the [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] Chairman of the Board against Mr Amos exclusive of those handed you by Mr Byers — I enclose them for your examination. From the manner in which they came to me I have reason to suppose them well founded, & I still think they deserve to be investigated. Relative to the Charges exhibited against me — I will not trouble you with any observations of mine upon them — as my reputation is at stake I shall be prepared to meet them, before the proper tribunal. Mr. S. Lyman I am apprehensive will not recover — He enjoins it on me to tender you his best respects & warmest wishes for your Health & Happiness & thanks you sincerely for your kind & friendly enquiries after his Health. I am Sir Most respectfully Your Obedient Servant Joseph Williams Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r. --- Copy of Charges exhibited against David Amos Superintendant of the Armoury at this Post Springfield & handed to the Chairman of the Board of Inquiry some time previous to their filing — 1^st Sometime in the year 179— Mr. Amos proposed to a Merchant in this town, that if he would let him & his family have goods at the first cost, he would purchase of him the clothing for the United States Apprentices & that he might put on them a good profit. & the said Merchant did pay to the said Amos a large sum of money, under assurances from Amos that he would give him the custom of the Armoury [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] 2^d James Washburn formerly an Armorer employed in the Works says that sometime in the month of May 1799. Mr. Amos proposed [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] him that if he (Washburn) would take Alpheus Pouchard his [Amos's] Apprentice under [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] month of June, & teach him the art of bricking Guns, that he (Washburn) should have the benefit of his work — that he took the Boy accordingly & was made up on the pay Rolls of the Armorers for the month of June $8. [undecipherable]/100 in addition to his former wages — Being for extra work done by the help of said Boy — & that the said Alpheus was made up besides Eight Dollars & Two which money Mr. Amos received — as Washburn says to the injury of himself or the United States — 3^d — It is reported that Jedediah Hammond an Apprentice to the Superintendants father, received pay & Rations — while he was absent for the small Pox & did no work — It is a well known fact that the custom in the Trade was, that if a man lost one day his Rations were Stopped — 4^th It cannot be the intention of the United States, that the Superintendant of so respectable Establishment should injure or refuse to pay an individual, for services justly performed & work absolutely returned in — for back money sacrely promised — which appears to be the [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] case of W^m. W. Sampson & Sam^l. Walker as per their Petition to me will show, aided by their testimony — [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] Joseph Williams