[No. 17 / 134] Treasury Department July 17^th 1796 Sir, Inclosed I have the honor of transmitting to you the copy of a letter from the Secretary at War to me of the 11^th of May last, as also the copy of [undecipherable: probable reading "an extract"] of a letter from General Wayne to him, relative to the bad quality of the Hats and Shoes furnished for the use of the Army by the Contractors for 1792. The President of the United States being of opinion, that the Contractors or Inspectors ought to be called to an account I have to request, that you will be pleased to take the necessary measures for prosecuting the Contractors & Inspectors, or such of them, against whom action may be supposed to lie. The copy of the Contract sent to you herewith, will enable you to determine how far the former are liable — John Miller Jun. and John Stelle were Inspectors generally of all the Leathing — But Nathaniel Waters and Peter Cooper were specially appointed to inspect the Hats and Shoes — These persons are [undecipherable] the Contractors are Citizens of Philadelphia, and had a liberal compensation for their trouble. M^r Hodgdon, who superintends the public Stores, into which the Hats & Shoes were delivered, will be able to afford you any further information that you may require on the subject. — I am with great respect, Sir, Your most Obedient Servant [signature] [July 17. 1796 / [undecipherable] / Recorded [undecipherable]] William Rawle Esquire Attorney for the District of Pennsylvania