[The Secretary of War Phil^a Aug 25 : 1797 19] Sir It becomes necessary from an representations alterations to have a factor or Agent at Savannah & Augusta and to do the public buisness a M^r Wm Wallace at the first & [undecipherable] at of the latter have been recommended to me as suitable persons and engaged to act. I wish to be instructed what compensation on the depot will entitle to contract what ought to be allowed them for their trouble, their buisness will princi pally be receiving & forwarding the goods & produce destined for the factory & making returns of the other parts of the business there is a considerable sum of money in the hands of the troops now from upwards of 40000 at this garrison of the Factory was furnished with groceries & some other articles suitable for their use it would afford [undecipherable] a proof to the public purposes to cover a number of losses that that must unavoidably occur, the soldiers being pretty strictly confined on the Indian side they have scarcely any way of supply any themselves with such little necessaries as they want this I submit to your better consideration & I am with due respect for want of accommodation to do buisness here, have not been able to forward an account [undecipherable] last half years balance will forward as soon as possible to the contracts this the goods here I have been obliged to apply to the Contractors this will credit the public from 6 p^ct on all monies, please to inform me if its right to continue is the good I was informed were chartered to be pressed for freight at Augusta