To George Washington from Samuel Hodgdon, 6 November 1798
From Samuel Hodgdon
Philadelphia 6th Novr 1798
Sir,
On the 11th I was honored with your letter of the 8th ultimo. Agreeably to your wishes therein expressed, I send by the way of Alexandria a farther supply of Stationary, answering to the enclosed invoice, which I hope will safely and speedily get to hand.1 By direction of the Secretary of War, I am making out for your use, a return of the principal articles on hand, in the Ordnance & Military Stores Department;2 as soon as finished, it shall be forwarded by the most speedy and certain conveyance: but for the disorder that has again ravaged our City it would have been with you some time ago; I have been left alone in my Office, and could not possibly attend to it sooner. With respectfull consideration I am Sir, Your most Obedient Servant
Samuel Hodgdon
LS, DLC:GW.
1. The enclosed invoice dated at Philadelphia 6 Nov. and signed by Hodgdon reads:
Invoice of Stationary
- 1 Ream patent copying Paper
- 1⅛ " Superfine gilt Post ditto
- 3 Pounds best sealing Wax
- 1 tin Chest of Wafers
- 1 small box to contain the above.
On 24 Dec. 1798 Tobias Lear wrote Hodgdon from Mount Vernon: “The Commander in Chief has directed me to apply to you for three or four Blank Books for recording his Military letters. The size as at foot to correspond with other Books of a similar nature—If they are made up in a snug package and forwarded by the Stage they will come safe and you will be so good as to have them sent on as soon as convenient” (DLC:GW). Below his signature Lear specified that the books should be 14½ inches long and 9 inches “broad.” He also wrote “4 quire paper good quality.”
Hodgdon replied to Lear on 9 Jan. 1799: “With this you will receive the four letter Books, which the Commander in Chief directed you to apply to me for—the size is agreeable to the dimensions at the foot of your letter, and the Paper and binding are of the best kind—I hope they will get safely to hand and be approved of by the General—The Box will secure the Books from injury by transporting⟨.⟩ Be pleased to acknowledge the receipt of them, and at the same time inform me whether the last Stationary forwarded is received, it must have arrived when the General was from home” (DLC:GW). Lear then wrote on 23 Jan.: “Your favor of the 9th inst. came to hand by the ⟨last⟩ mail. The Box containing the four letter Books for the Commander in Chief was received a few days before. The Books give entire satisfaction, and the General returns his thanks for your attention to them. The stationary which you forwarded during the General’s absence arrived safe and in good Order” (DLC:GW).