Pittsburg July 8 1796 Sir Agreeably to my promise I now proceed to the confirmation of my last provision return in answer to yours of the 23^d ult^o The mode of ascertaining the weight of the Beeves delivered on foot on public account at this post, has been, to imagine (Agres interested persons) the weight of nett Beef contained in each Bullock, assigning thereto one fourth for the Hide & Tallow — This is the only principle that I could procure to be adopted, the Contractors & Referees ever alledging the Custom of allowing what is called the fifth Quarter — Hence the indiscriminate Item in the return $112 Hide & Tallow — which upon actual slaughter of the [undecipherable: Beeves] as to Burg & Presque Isle have by no means equaled the Wt. For hides have been disposed of to a Tanner at 6^d per pound, the amt (soon as ascertained will be placed to the credit of the U S — The Tallow which is however quite inconsiderable has been converted into Candles. As to the [undecipherable] in my return of the while I credits which respect Gen. Wilkins's delivery of le Bœuf — The Case is the actual quantity of provision delivered by him at that post, which should be to my General Debit, and to my credit as forwarded to that post — to which post it should also be charged. But as Gen. Wilkins's agreement was to deliver only 3000 rations at that post — the difference between the direct credits in my return was carried to the credit of Scott and Irwin, included in their abstract of supplies at Pittsburg, as they compensated for the Transportation. There will however remain a difference in the flour, owing to four barrels of damaged which I had not considered as public property at the time of making my return, but which has since been determined such by arbitrement — but this can make no difference with respect to the aggregate amount, as was it entitled to be entered to be credited as damaged flour. The provision forwarded to Fort Franklin & le Bœuf in that post and Presqu'Isle, thro the Venendres should have been distinctly entered — but alter it was easy to enter the provision forwarded from Pittsburg to the post for which it was destined yet it was difficult to say at which it was actually delivered as a supply — the transportation entirely depending on the State of French Creek — consequently the stores intended for le Bœuf have been stopt at Presque Isle in whole or in part as the Creek would admit — forwarded 138 in the Manner & by the Convey at the latter post, to the former. The Pounds & Gallons affixed to any number of Pamela Pints are invariably intended as contained therein I not an in addition — You will be pleased to Notice that in the return the Credits in the Articles of Pork exceed the Debits — this is occasioned by the recpt of some barrels of pork of the Contractors previous to the 1^st of March, which however were not included in their abstract of supplies to that day, but in the subsequent one — The excess must therefore be to my credit in my next return — The Vouchers for the Issue of Provisions at this post for the Months of October, November & December 1795 & January & Feb^y 1796 accompany this in two packets to your address under cover to the Secretary at War. Your letters of the 28 ult. & 2^d instant are both recd to both of which immediate attention shall be paid — both have not sufficient time to notice the whole of their Contents before the departure of this post. Sam. Sir. Y^r very ob^t H^ble S^t Sam Hodgden esq [signature]