[from Sec at War Feb. 15. 1799 Ans'd. March 5. 1799 Letter from Hancock also Major Horp Letter from Portland } acquiring Articles — } Barrack Rent Provisions Fort Jay } Col. Steven }] War Department Feb^y 15^th 1799 Sir I enclose for your information copies of letters, viz: one from Cap^tn Frye dated Fort Jay, Feb^y [undecipherable] 1799, one from Cap^t Stoddard dated Portland Jan^y 27^th 199 one from L^t Hancock dated Hinespoville Jan^y 26^th 1799 and one from Captain Bruff dated Indian Queen 15^th Jan^y enclosing certain charges against Major Ricarda [+ margin notation] As to the letter from Captain Frye, Col^o Stevens was instructed on the 26^th of December ulto. "In order that the troops may not suffer until you can close the contract upon advantageous terms, you will enter into arrangements with the present Contractor to continue the supplies until such time as the new contract can operate. In case also that M^r Smith's terms do not make it proper that he should obtain the new Contract, such provisions as he has laid in at West point and other posts ought to be taken from him at a [underline: reasonable] price, and an article included in the New Contract for that purpose" You will speak with Col^o Stevens on this point and advise the proper arrangements I am, Sir, with the greatest respect your most ob^t Ser^t James McHenry Major Gen^l Alex^r Hamilton