[Secretary at War Knox] [Instructions to the agent] [Portsmouth New Hampshire] To WAR DEPARTMENT, March 29^th, 1794. SIR, YOU having been appointed for the purpofe of obtaining the labour, implements and materials for the fortifications which are to be erected at [strikethrough: the labour, implements and materials for the fortifications which are to be erected at] Portsmouth, in the State of New Hampshire, in purfuance of a Law of the United States for that purpofe, are to regard the following inftructions as the general rule of your conduct. 1ft. Upon the Engineer's or Superintendant's of the works making a requifition upon you in writing for labor or workmen to erect earth works of the defcription which he fhall give, you will confider well, whether the object defcribed could be accomplithed with more œconomy by a contract with fome refponfible perfon or perfons at a certain rate per cubical yard, or by hiring individuals per day. In general it is the moft faving mode to remove earth by contract. If this upon full inveftigation fhould appear to be the cafe, you will of courfe adopt it. 2d. It will be expected that for any mechanical work to be performed, whether relatively to the fortifications, or the mounting of artillery, that you will obtain every article upon the beft terms poffible. This will be effential for the fake of your own reputation, as it is not improbable that all the accounts refpecting this bufinefs may hereafter be publifhed. Befides which the accounting officers of the Treafury will rigidly examine every charge, and if exorbitant or not well vouched they will make the neceffary deductions. 3d. It is to be underftood by you, that the requifition in writing upon you by the Engineer or by the Superintendant authorized by the Engineer for that purpofe will be effential in the paffing your accounts. It is poffible, however, that fome other perfon than the Engineer, may hereafter be appointed, to mount the cannon ; in that cafe he will exhibit his appointment to you before you furnifh any fupplies. The fum contemplated for the port of Portsmouth, being 2527. 31 [undecipherable: Cents] is not to be exceeded without fome preffing reafon. It will be neceffary therefore at the time that the firft moiety of the faid fum fhould be expended that you fhould enclofe me an abftract of the articles for which it has been difburfed, together with a ftatement of the Engineer or Superintendant of the proportion which the fum expended bears to the whole work, taking into confideration the purchafe of any materials which are to ferve for the general object. The amount of the expences for making new carriages for cannon, cannot now be afcertained. But the Secretary of the Treafury will place Dollars in your hands to be appropriated to that object. I am, Sir, Your humble fervant, [undecipherable: signature]