[Address leaf, upper right notations: Isaac Craig / 14^th March 1800 / Q: Old D[undecipherable] [undecipherable] / of [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]] [circled: 331e] [Postal mark: PITTSG PA MAR 14] No. Samuel Hodgdon Esq. Philadelphia Pittsburg, 14^th March 1800. Sir, I have received your letter of the 7^th instant. I am sorry that your application to the Secretary of War has been ineffectual, indeed it appears to me that it has been treated in a manner verging towards Contempt — Your application to the Agent will not, I presume,) produce a decision on that business, it may however lead towards it — The Armourer is still usefully employed this services will continues to be necessary so long as such considerable numbers of small arms are deposited at this post — I shall however continue him till the end of this month and then dismiss him unless the mode by which he is to be paid is clearly pointed out — I believe I have taken a [strikethrough: great] deal of trouble on myself in the Ordnance department that I ought to have left undone, and in that case it is probable that some person would have been appointed to that Duty with a proper compensation as at Detroit, Natchez &c.^a — T. The Weather is very fine, notwithstanding the ice in Allegheny is not yet broke up — By next post I believe I may promise the Abstract Vouchers required for the year 1798 — having for some considerable time past devoted all our attention to that business — And as soon as that is compleated the Commissary accounts will be taken up — and I have reason to believe that satisfactory vouchers will be produced for all deficiencies that have appeared to you from the posts under my direction — I am with great respect Sir Your obed. Serv— Isaac Craig Samuel Hodgdon esq^r. Philadelphia