[marginalia: Vol. I / No. 62] [undecipherable] April 6. 1797 I have the honor to transmit a Copy of a Contract made with [James?] O'Hara dated the 8^th of March 1797, for issuing the Supplies which may remain at the different Posts on the first day of June ensuing, in consequence of deposits made previous to the Contract dated June 1^st 1796. It is of the greatest importance that all the Commanders of Posts should be furnished with Copies of that agreement as [soon?] as possible, and that they should be instructed to cause duplicate inventories [to be made?] of the different species of Supplies that may be found at the [undecipherable] several Posts on the 1^st day of June ensuing. It is to be observed that the Contract dated June 1^st 1796, contains a stipulation that there [should be] absolutely provided at the Posts of Michilmack[inac] Sandusky, Detroit Niagara & Oswego, a supply sufficient for the consumption of the Troops for the space of at least six months in advance. And that there should be, if required [to?] cover [at?] these other Posts mentioned & [for?] provided for in the said Contract quantities of provisions [sufficient?] for the consumption of the Troops for the space of at least [three?] months in [advance?] [undecipherable] the Contract of 21^st of [undecipherable] 1796. The effect of this stipulation combined with the Contract for issuing dated the 8^th of March 1797 ought to be understood with [undecipherable] by the [Commanding?] Officers, [undecipherable] Supplies may be delivered by the Contractor on or before the 1^st of June 1797, and charged under the Contract dated June 1^st 1796, [undecipherable] ought properly to be placed to the Contract dated March 15^th 1797 for supplying the army from June 1^st 1799 to September 30^th 1799. The intent to do this is evident, as this latter Contract is more advantageous to the Pub[lic] The only [undecipherable] check which occurs to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] delivering under the Contract of June 1^st 1796, at these Posts which were proposed to be supplied for three months in advance is, [undecipherable] and it will be to require [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] written requisitions of the Commander of the Army to be forwarded[,] [undecipherable] just sufficient however to direct the issuing Officer [undecipherable] to issue Supplies as fall within the [undecipherable] directions in case [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] for making [undecipherable] posts [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the Contract dated [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] But as the Troops have frequently [undecipherable] moved, and as it is impossible to form accurate estimates of the Supplies which would be required at every Post, it appears [undecipherable] that in doubtful cases, & [undecipherable] deliveries do not appear to be in a [undecipherable]. The Supplies ought to be view'd as under the Contract dated June 1^st 1796. It will be necessary that duplicates [of?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] O'Hara [specifying?] the quantities and articles which he may receive, one [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you to [undecipherable] to be allowed & transmitted to this Dep[artmen]t, the other will & I presume be necessary [for] Your Department [undecipherable] to enable the Superintendent of Military Stores & Supplies, to close the accounts of the Commissary General & his Deputies. Where the deliveries have been made, it appears to me that the powers of the Commissary General, will be no longer necessary. On [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] the complaints of the [District?] Officers against the Contractor [undecipherable] [undecipherable] find them, reducible to two points — 1^st. [The?] failure of Supplies to [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and the delivery of [undecipherable] Beef [undecipherable] of Salted Provisions The Contract of June 1^st 1796, [undecipherable] in case of failure to supply [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on requisition, it [shall?] be lawful for the Commander in Chief [undecipherable] [some person?] to be Designated by him, to procure [the necessary?] Supplies at [underline: the expence of the Contractor.] & it was moreover clearly optional to require the Salted Provisions, in lieu of fresh, if expedient on the score of economy or Security. — As a similar provision has been introduced into the Contract dated March 15^th 1797, it is submitted to your consideration whether it is not expedient that Copies should be transmitted to the different Post[s]. I have the honor The Sec'y of War