[Endorsed: Letter of Attorney from James Byers to Samuel Hodgdon] [Circular stamp: 78] [Stamp: Received State [undecipherable] Nov 24, [undecipherable] R [undecipherable]] [Stamp: 25 Cent^s] Know all men by these presents, that I James Byers Junior of Springfield in the County of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have made constituted and appointed Samuel Hodgdon Esquire of Philadelphia in the County of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my name and for my own proper use and behoof, to ask, demand and receive of James McHenry Esq. Secretary for the Department of War, of the United States of America, or his Successor in Office, such Sums of Money as now are, or may become due, on Account of a contract made and entered into with the said Secretary of War for supplying Rations of Provisions & Wood to the Armourers and other persons employed by the United States at Springfield aforesaid, for the year Eighteen hundred — and to give proper receipts and discharges therefor. Hereby ratifying and confirming all my said Attorney shall do in the premises. Signed & Sealed in the presence of Jon.^s Dwight jun^r William Walte In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal this seventeenth Day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred — James Byers Jun^r [Seal]