Treasury Department Trenton Aug.^t 20. 1798 Sir, Having this day concluded a Contract with M^r Robert M^cCormick for manufacturing and delivering three thousand Muskets for the use of the United States — I have to request that you will when required by M^r M^cCormick deliver to him three thousand seasoned black walnut Stocks out of the public Stores — observing to take triplicate receipts therefor. The Muskets being to be made agr[eeable] to the Charleville model — I will thank you to [have] two of the most perfect to be selected to serve as patterns — and have them sealed or marked in such manner as to identify them hereafter — one of them is then to be delivered to M^r M^cCormick the other you will keep safely in your possession I am with Consideration, Sir Your Obed.^t Servant Oliv. Wolcott Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r. Commissary of Stores [Cover address panel:] [undecipherable] M^cCormick &c Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r Commissary of Stores Philadelphia [Docket endorsement:] War Department [undecipherable] on 20 Aug. [undecipherable]