[September 4^th 1798 Thomas Bicknell    with         } Contract the United States } for fabricating 2000 muskets Recorded in Contract Book B page 208. Settled 4 Aug^t 1801 for 2000 Stands. Comptroller's Office Recorded in Contract Book N^o 3 Page 87. Tho^s Bicknell    Contr.] Articles of Agreement made on the Fourth — Day of September .. .. —One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-Eight, between OLIVER WOLCOTT, Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, of the one part, and Thomas Bicknell —— of Attleborough —— in the State of Massachusetts — of the other part. First. THE said Thomas Bicknell —— contracts and engages to manufacture within the United States, and deliver to such person or persons as shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary of War, for the time being Two Thousand —— stands of Arms, or Muskets, with Bayonets and Ramrods complete and fit for service—One third of the whole number to be delivered within eight months—One other third within fourteen months, and the remaining third with eighteen months from the date of these presents. Second. THE said Arms shall be delivered at Providence .. .. '.. .. -- in the State of Rhode Islands —— and shall be made after the Charleville model. The Barrels shall be proved and the Muskets inspected agreeably to the rules now practised and required by the United States; the Locks shall be duly hardened; the Ramrods and Bayonets shall be properly tempered; and the Mountings, Stocks, and every other particular shall be finished in a workman-like manner, in all parts precisely, or as near as possible, conformably to two patterns, which have been marked, and sealed by the contracting parties to this Instrument; one of which patterns, the party of the second part hereby acknowledges to have received. Third. THE Barrels shall be proved, and the Muskets inspected at Attleborough aforesaid .. .. — .. .. .. by a person or persons to be appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary of War. When due notice shall have been received by the party of the first part, that One Hundred and Fifty .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Barrels are ready for the test; the proof shall commence, on like notice that a further number of Two — Hundred & fifty .. .. Barrels are ready, the same shall also be proved; after which the United States shall not be required to prove less than Four Hundred .. .. .. .. .. .. Barrels at one time. The wages of the Inspector; the expense of powder and ball; and all other expenses attending the proving and inspecting, shall be borne by the United States. Fourth. THE Stocks of the Muskets shall be made of well seasoned black walnut timber, when the same can be procured by the Contractor, otherwise, of well seasoned, tough maple timber; or the United States shall cause to be delivered, at Philadelphia, to the party of the second part, if the same shall be required, —— Two —— Thousand —— well seasoned black walnut stocks in the rough, as they have been usually received into the public stores, at the rate of twenty-five cents each. Fifth. THE party of the first part, contracts for and on behalf of the United States to pay or allow in settlement, Thirteen Dollars and Forty Cents, for each and every of the Stands of Arms which shall be manufactured according to the pattern, and delivered after p[undecipherable] inspection as aforesaid. In witness whereof the said Secretary of the Treasury on behalf of United States, hath hereunto subscribed his hand and affixed the Seal of the Treasury; and the said Thomas Bicknell —— —— .. .. —— .. —— .. —— —— —— [seal of the Treasury] [signed:] Oliv Wolcott Sec'y the Treas hath hereto set his hand and seal, the day and year first above written. Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of [signed:] Jn^o Sexter A[undecipherable] [signed:] [undecipherable] Cushing Thomas Bicknell [signed] By virtue of authority given to me by Oliver Wolcott Esquire the aforesaid Secretary of the Treasury, I hereby agree in behalf of the said United States that the periods for delivering the musquets mentioned in the foregoing Contract shall be calculated from this nineteenth day of January — one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine — instead of the day of the date of said Contract. —— [signed:] Jn^o Sexter A[undecipherable]