James Read to Henry Burbeck, July 1, 1808

Fort Mifflin July 1^st: 1808
D^r. Sir,
 
            I have received your favor of y^e 26^th: ultimo and
now have y^e honor to enclose you a Return of Ordinance &^c.
on hand, my Inspection and Monthly Returns for June
and a Muster Roll of my company. –   Hahn being
a good rough carpenter I have taken him into y^e
company –   I had entirely forgotten to mention
to you y^e Departure of Leiu^t. Champlain, he left
this on y^e 16^th: of June in y^e Ship Agnes, Captⁿ. Bunce.
            M^r. Coke has not as yet notified me
of any shot being ready for inspection. I shall take
care to inspect them as you have directed.
            I beg leave to request that you will have
y^e goodness to inform me whether it is not customary
to allow some compensation to y^e Matron of a Hos-
pital. y^e time is fast approaching when there will

be y^e greatest necessity for one at this post. We have
ever had one in y^e Hospital, but they become so disgusted
with y^e labor of attending on, and washing for y^e sick,
that we can scarcely ever keep y^e same woman more
than a month. I have been in y^e habit of giving y^e
Matron a Ration, which is a poor compensation
and no inducement to remain in y^e situation. I think
if eight or ten dollars a month or even less were allowed
a good and industrious woman would be induced to
to do every thing in her power to retain her situation
and y^e sick would be much benefitted.
I am Sir,
      very respectfully
your ob^t. serv^t.
James Read
Captⁿ. Art^s. comg
Colonel Henry Burbeck —
Command^r. of y^e East^rn. Dep^t. of y^e Army