Pittsburgh 7^th Feb^y 1800 [Received from State Dept. [undecipherable] 24. 1864. R[ec't?] 401810.] Sir I have this moment received Your favour of the 31^st Ultimo — I have hitherto had hopes that the Sums due me on my Claims for Services in Ordnance & Commissary Departments might have been applied to the discharge of your Balance — but as the proceeds of those Claims is still at a distance I shall by next Post transmit to you a Draft for that Sum, in the mean time I have to beg of you to obtain an answer from the Secretary of war on that Business Should he Still decline a decision I presume an Application to Congress ought immediately to be made. I am certainly treated by the Secretary with very little respect to say no worse of that Business — Our River is Still Shut up with Ice and a deep Snow covers the Ground — The Coffee is not yet come to hand I am Sir Your Obedient Servant [Signature] Sam^l Hodgdon Esq^r Philadelphia