Pittsburg 21^st February 1800 Sir, In my letter of 27. Decem last, I informed you of the Quarter Master General's refusing to admit of Accts in the Ordnance department — his reasons he says are, that as he has no Superintendance of that department — he conceives it improper to admit of accounts of Expenditures arising under it. Notwithstanding it appears from the Secretary of War's letter (a Copy of which you will find herewith) that it was intended the Quarter M^rGen should pay all such accounts he however still declines to admit such, and therefore I have taken a liberty of transmitting herewith to your Care four Accounts of Pay of Nath.^s Campbell, Armourer who has been usefully employed and has rendered faithful Service to the United States, in cleaning &repairing the Arms in store at this place &in making occasional repairs to the Arms in the hands of the Troops at the upper Posts You will find the first of these accounts commences the 1^st July 1798, the last ending with the year 1799 — the amount [underline: 450] dollars — You will be pleased to present these accounts to the Secretary of War, who I have no doubt will order payment, on being informed, that the Q^rM^rGen's declines interfering with the Ordnance department — You will observe by the enclosed Copy of the Secretary of War's letter that a General System not then matured was in contemplation which it appears respected, the Ordnance department — I hope that, that System has by this time arrived at maturity. — It is somewhat unaccountable that at the posts of Detroit Fort Wayne and Natchez. Commissaries of Military Stores have been appointed paid and continued — And at this post, where the business of the Ordnance department is at least equal to that of any of these posts, it should be transacted without compensation, I have so often called on the Secretary of War upon this business that I almost despair of Success through that means — I have now together with the Papers before mentioned transmitted you a Bill drawn by the Q^rM^r General of this date on James Miller in my favor for 1000 Dollars and indorsed to you, for which you wile please to give me credit — Our rivers are still shut up with strong ice, and snow covers the ground upwards of two feet deep. The Barrel of Coffee is not yet come to hand — I am Sir Your obed Servant Isaac Craig Samuel Hodgdon Esq Philad.^a