[Cover leaf. Endorsement, upper right, written vertically:] [undecipherable] Williams / Dec 15 [undecipherable] / charge a[undecipherable] from him [undecipherable] [Address:] Januy 3 Feb '13 Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r [undecipherable] Philadelphia [Stamp:] Received / State Dep't. / from [undecipherable] / No. 24 1834. / B.P.O. 401810. Springfield Sept^r 13^th 1800. Sir, In your letter of the 8^th instant you wish me (in confidence) to name to you the Gentleman, to whom I alluded, that I had strong suspicions of his taking undue Measures to prevent a fair examination into existing troubles at this Post — I cannot substantiate any facts that would implicate him in such a proceeding — but from recent cir-cumstancy, my suspicions are [underline: strong] & I believe well [underline: founded] — I hesitate Sir not a moment in confiding in you that confidence you request — the Gentleman to whom I alluded is General William Shepard, Chairman of the Committee to investigate the troubles &c at this Post. Will you be so obliging as to enquire of Mess^rs. Nicholdon & Porterhouse the attempt M^r Ames made to bribe them to neglect their duty in proving Musket Barrels, if it is of any importance, I wish you to inform me — that I may cite M^r A. to appear by himself or his Attorney to be present at taking their evidences — Declaration has been made to the Board — what it is supposed to be their evidence — they may some of them may expect it. Believing that you or the Secretary of War have never been furnished with the charges — I exhibited to the [strikethrough: Board] Chairman of the Board against M^r Ames exclusive of those handed you by M^r Byers — I enclose them for your examination — from the manner in which they came to me I have reason to suppose them well founded, & I still think, they deserve to be investigated. Relative to the Charges exhibited against me — I will not trouble you with any observation of mine upon them — as my reputation is at stake I shall be prepared to meet them, before the proper tribunals. M^r S. Lyman I am apprehensive will not recover — He enjoins it on me to tender you his best respects & warmest wishes for your Health & Happiness & thanks you sincerely for your kind & friendly enquiries after his Health. I am Sir Most respectfully Your Obedient Servant Joseph Williams Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r [Copy] Copy of Charges exhibited against David Ames Superintendant of the Armory at this Post Springfield & handed to the Chairman of the Board of Inquiry some time previous to their filing — 1° Some time in the year 179— M^r Ames proposed to a merchant in this town, that if he would let him & his family have goods at the first cost he would purchase of him the clothing for the United States Apprentices & that he might put on them a good profit. & the said Merchant did pay to the said Ames a large sum of money, under assurances from Ames that he would give him the custom of the Armory [strikethrough: at that] 2— James Washbourn formerly an Armourer employed in the Works says that some time in the Month of May 1799. M^r Ames [strikethrough: proposed] him that if he (Washborn) would take Alpheus Packard his Apprentice under [strikethrough: his care some] Month of June, & teach him the art of bricking Guns, that he (Washbourn) should have the benefit of his work — that he took the Boy accordingly & was made up on the pay Rolls of the Armourers for the Month of June $8. 10/100 in addition to his former wages — being for extra work done by the help of said Boy — & that the said Alpheus was made up besides Eight Dollars & Two which money M^r Ames received — as Washbourn says — to the injury of himself or the United States — 3° It is reported that Jedediah Hammon an Apprentice to the Superintendants Father received pay & Rations while he was dealing for the small Pox & did no work — It is a well known fact that the custom in the Trade was, that if a man lost one day his Rations were Stopp'd — 4^th It cannot be the intention of the United States that the Superintendant of so respectable Establishment should injure or refuse to pay an Individual for services justly performed & work absolutely returned in — for took money secretly promised — which appears to be the case [strikethrough: and the] of W^m. W. Sampson & Sam^l. Walker as per their Petition to me will show, aided by their testimony — [strikethrough text] Joseph Williams