Philadelphia 6^th October, 1800 Sir, I beg leave to address you on the following subject [undecipherable] This year [undecipherable] were pleased to appoint [undecipherable] Keeper in your Office, during which time, the [undecipherable] has been [undecipherable] to the present day; all my care, diligence, and efforts are exercised to prevent the Books from getting into a state of Arrearage — Permit me therefore Sir, to solicit an augmentation of my Salary, and in making the request, I might contrast my duties with those in other Offices perhaps with advantage, and I must observe that many whose duties are not more arduous, or whose industry and care are not more awakened than mine, ^{are allowed} One thousand Dollars p Annum, while I receive but seven hundred — I conscientiously declare that such are my unavoidable [expenses], that I [undecipherable: cannot subsist on a entire salary?] without resorting to the meanest oeconomy, & that I should spend the best years of my life for a bare subsistence, is, you must allow a hard case — Besides Sir, a general allowance has been made to the Clerks in the several Departments excepting to those in your Office — I have long thought & continue still to think that the allowance made me is not adequate to the services rendered — Wherefore I entreat your attention; and cherish a belief that you will acknowledge the propriety of my request — I am Sir With much Respect Your Most Obedient Servant Peter Wilson Samuel Hodgdon Esquire Superintendant of Military Stores [Cover sheet: addressed to Samuel Hodgdon Esquire, Pres!; docketed Peter Wilson, Oct 6 1800; stamp: (63) Recd from Secy Dep't Nov 24, [undecipherable] E.P.O. 40.310.]