Springfield Sep^t30 1800. Sir, Yours of the 23^d Ins^t has come to hand — I am fully satisfied with your Instructions — I shall endeavour to comply with them if the Superintendant still continues to object to receive the Coat. I fully agree with you that the public in[terest] calls [underline: loudly] for an investigation into the difficulties subsisting in this Department & of you[r] [undecipherable] into the conduct of both Storekeeper & Superintendant — for my own part I wish every thing relative to my conduct may be thoroughly examined & especially so far as [undecipherable] relates to the Superintendant — for if I have done things worthy of Death, I refuse not to die — but I wish this investigation to be thorough and such as to get at the root of this diffic[ulty] but I am confident if it is left to take its course without some person of Influence in the department to conduct the enquiry it will never answer the purpose — Mr Lyman is no better — it is not impossible he may continue in this state for a long while without any great alteration. I am Sir Most respectfully Y^r Obedient Serv^t Sam^l Hodgdon Esq^r Joseph Williams [Received from State Dep't Nov. 24. 1894. B.P.O.401810.]