With respect to the Sloop, Detroit, should you find upon a representation from Brigadier General Wilkinson that she will be required, and necessary for the transportation of Troops or Public Stores, and upon inspection of her, or from any report in your possession, that certain repairs are indispensible to fit her for such service, you will cause the articles wanted, to be purchased, and the repairs to be made. If articles are to be purchased in this Town for your Department, and sent hence, you will give orders to that effect to your Agent here; if you have one. Mr Samuel Hodgdon has been Agent heretofore, for the Quarter Master General. If he is to act for you, and pay your Bills, it is proper that he should be authorised by you. I enclose you the Act of Congress passed the 3^d instant, continuing the Quarter Master General. The [undecipherable] which is about to take place in the years 1797, and 1798, will stipulate, that proper [undecipherable] shall be provided at the several posts, at the expence of the United States, in the safe keeping of the Provisions, to be deposited at them respectively. You will therefore turn your immediate attention to this subject, and have such repairs made to the Store houses, in the posts on the Lakes and at such other Posts as shall be pointed out to you, by Brigadier General Wilkinson. Sir, September 8. 1798. I have received your letters of the [undecipherable] and 31 August ulto. Mr Hodgdon has been informed that a Vessel for the United States would be [undecipherable] at Detroit, and instructed to conform in your directions relative to the articles to be purchased for her equippment. Orders have also been given to prepare and forward the Cloathing for the Troops in the Northwestern Posts, as soon as possible. It will be divided into distinct packages conformable to the numbers composing the respective Garrisons. Sir, December 8. 179[undecipherable: probable reading 1797]. The Secretary of the Treasury wrote to me, on the [undecipherable] December instant, assigning the strongest reasons why your Power of Attorney to Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r will not answer the purposes intended. — The Power is stated as not retrospective, and informal. — I am sure you will see the absolute necessity of immediately supplying the defects of this power, by one that is correctly formal, retrospective and sufficiently extensive to embrace every object past, and future, intended by it; and this I urgently request you will do. Sir, December 7. 1798. The Spaniards having evacuated the Posts on the Mississippi, added to other circumstances, renders it unnecessary to send the Galley on the Stocks for the present from Pittsburg. You will however complete her, and keep her in a situation not to receive injury, and in a state to descend the [undecipherable] on the shortest notice. Not being precisely informed of the orders left by General Wilkinson, respecting the destination of such Troops, as might arrived at Pittsburg after his departure; and circumstances requiring that those under Captain Miller should remain till Spring, and further orders at Fort Fayette, or Cincinnatti, you will if Captain Miller is at Pittsburg, give him the enclosed letter, and if departed down the Ohio, send it after him by Express. With respect to the order from Isaac Williams, mentioned by M^r Craig in his letter of the 30^th Ultimo, in favour of the Indian who brought his dispatches to the Secretary of War, it must be paid to the Indian who acted for Williams, in this case, as an Express.