Autograph Letter Signed

Political Power and Settlement of Accounts

Craig believed Hodgdon's removal from office was to create a vacancy for Gen. Irvine. Craig surprised Irvine would want to take on a job that required attention to detail and calculations. Craig expected that he would soon be replaced by "some favorite Democrat". Inquires after the state of his accounts as Deputy Commissioner, hoped Hodgdon would settle Craig's accounts before he left office.

1801

03

27

Pittsburgh

Philadelphia

Samuel Hodgdon

Isaac Craig

Irvine

enemy

Democrat

Federalist

Deputy Commissioner

Philadelphia

Pittsburgh

Niagara

Fort Bruenton

fort

post

frontier

territory

accounts

removal from office

job security

political parties

compensation

reimbursement

payment

settlement of accounts

1801032789001

1

To Samuel Hodgdon Esquire Philadelphia
Pittsburg 27 March 1801
Dr Sir
I have just received your favor of the 20th instant and with deep concern perused its contents - I believe there was one weighty reason for your removal viz to make a vacan-cy for General Irvine - And I am persuaded your enemies will not point out another reason - I am indeed aston-ished that Genl Irvine applied for such an Office - if he did apply for an Office that required such care attention & such continued intricate calculation - I shall by next post expect to hear of my troublesome Office being courted and filled by some favorite Democrat. But pray my Dear Sir, in what situation will my account of Services as Deputy Commissary be left in your Office? You formerly informed me that all the provisions departed as I consumed at Niagra & Fort Bruenton were charged to me
I hope you will have leisure to remove that charge from my Shoulders before you deliver up your Office - if not to obtain a compensation for my Services [undecipherable] [undecipherable].
I am Dear Sir
most sincerely
your [undecipherable] IC