[undecipherable] [Endorsements on verso:] [Docket, rotated, upper right:] [undecipherable] / a D[undecipherable] / No 15 — [undecipherable] [Oval archival stamp] D George [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Philadelphia Samuel [undecipherable] New York 14 [undecipherable] Samuel Hodgdon I am happy to inform you of my arrival from Albany where I have been for a considerable time attending the Legislature — while I was there, I exam[ined] the Military Stor[e]s belonging to the [undecipherable] they are deposited in a wooden building (at a rent of $500 per Ann:) which is [undecipherable: probable reading surrounded] with [undecipherable] of a Combustible nature & [undecipherable] them much exposed on account [of] fire — I have obtained permission from the Legislature, for the Commissary of Stor[e]s to [undecipherable: probable reading remove] them, into the Arsenal, free of expense. The Arsenal is nearly finished, is a very large and fire proof, with locks to [undecipherable] on. This building will contain all the military Stor[e]s this State will want to place in it; once there will be sufficient room to deposit what the UStates would wish to have deposited there — This business you may communicate to the Sec[retar]y of War. — I would recommend to you having 144 Arm[undecipherable] [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] be placed in this Arsenal, in case of removal and that the arms be cleaned, before they are lack'd, I mentioned to the Mayor of Albany the Impropriety of charging the UStates for Stor[age] of Powder, he [undecipherable] that they [undecipherable] the Magazine, by the year, to certain persons, and it was a perquisite allo[wed] them — He further observ[ed] that they would grant a piece of Ground, to the US, for the purpose of erecting a Magazine, if they would Equip it — M^r [undecipherable] makes great difficulty in paying my ac^t for Overalls furnished in Feb[ruary] 1799 — [undecipherable] at which price I have charg'd them, and made no allowance for Sergeants. The cloth for which cost $4.²⁵/100. I expect I shall have occasion to come on in a few days, for the purpose of having my ac^t adjusted — my advance for them is great. The [undecipherable] writes me he cannot make any further advance on [undecipherable] fortifications, and that I must look to this State — The Legislature have pass'd a law to pay the UStates the [undecipherable] due them, by instalment of $20000 D^s Annually, but it will be nearly three months before any money will be rec[eive]d — as the business is thus situated, there ought not to be any difficulty made by the [undecipherable] in remitting me — My Respects to your family and [undecipherable] Sir Your Resp^t [Signature — undecipherable]