[Cover docket, upper right, rotated:] [Colonel [undecipherable] Williams] [[undecipherable] Nov^r 1800] [Rec^d [undecipherable]] [refers [undecipherable]] [Address panel:] [Nov^r 22] [Samuel Hodgdon] [[undecipherable] of [undecipherable]] [at [undecipherable]] [Received from State Dep't Nov. 24, 1894. R.P.O. 401810.] Springfield Nov^r 22^d 1800 Sir Your Letter of the 15^th & 18^th ins^t came to hand together this morning, the latter enclosing One thousand Dollars in Post Notes on account of the Armory. Common politeness would have pointed out to the G—l the propriety of calling on you on his way to C— o— under existing circumstances no apology can be made — except a self determination of a uniformity in his conduct — he might have committed to you the result of the enquiry though not made out in due form — the delay I am told is owing to an indisposition of one of the Commiss^rs A state of anxiety & suspense is of all others the most disagreeable — such will be my situation till I know the finishing stroke to this business — Your directions relative to the body will not relieve me from my embarrassment — unless a better understanding takes place between the Sup^t & the Contractors — who I believe are strictly honest men — I have acted with integrity in this business so far as has come to my knowledge — if it was my private business I would not hesitate a moment of closing the account — I [undecipherable] I cannot get along in this affair without troubling you again — I will then point out to you the particulars of the whole transaction — With Pleasure will I communicate your friendly Sentiments to our friend Lyman — poor fellow, his situation claims the sympathy of all his friends he is troubled with sores breaking out, most all over his Body which are very painfull & distressing — he is also troubled with fainting turns — in some of [undecipherable] he appears a past recovery — in one one of these — I fearfull he will leave us — I know of no family [undecipherable] that would be so miserable in the midst of riches as his — in case he should be taken away — my earnest prayer is that he may recover for his Childrens sake — & the society in which he lives & the Publick in Gen^l — I am Sir Most respectfully Your Obedient Servant Joseph Williams [Samuel Hodgdon Esq^re]