The War Department needs to purchase fifty horses. Hodgdon describes the qualities wanted in the horses, and the general price. He also requests a supply of boats.
Alexander D. Orr of Kentucky grants John Mason in Georgetown, Maryland (District of Columbia) power of attorney solely for the purpose of receiving payments for a contract Orr has with the Department of War. Appended is a receipt for $10,000 Mason received for Orr.
The Department of War has been understaffed due to the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. Secretary of the Treasury Hamilton has removed to Albany and Secretary Knox has gone to Boston. Howell himself is in Montgomery County, 10 miles from the city. He describes the impact of the fever in Philadelphia.
Williams has received an invoice of clothing and casks supposedly containing the clothing. The casks will be opened and checked against the invoice as soon as possible. Williams thinks the clothing should have been shipped via New York.
Williams encloses return of articles and expenditures for the armory at Springfield. He has not yet received the two thousand dollars Hodgdon sent on the 4th.
Returns of stores and receipts signed off on by David Offley between March 1799 and January 1800. Includes a newspaper clipping about goods stolen from public stores.
George Harrison has unable to contact Simon Messinger regarding the details of the machine directed to be made for the use of the Navy. Mr. Francis might have advanced $100 in vouchers, but Harrison is not sure.