[pg 82.] War Department, April 1. 1799. Sir, Major General Hamilton who has been charged with the Recruiting Service, contemplates to put into immediate activity, the measures he has proposed for that purpose. I have therefore to request, you will take the most effectual and prompt methods to obtain, upon the best terms, a General Contract, or if that shall be impracticable, Contracts for specified Districts, in Connecticut, but so as to ensure supplies, at all and every place or places, where troops are or may be stationed, marched or recruited in the said State, for and during the residue of the Year 1799. It will be proper to enumerate in the Contract or Contracts the following places of Rendezvous, established by Major General Hamilton, viz: at Hartford, Hebron, New London, Brooklyns, Windham, Litchfield, Guilford, New Haven, Fairfield and Danbury. By an Act passed the 3^d of March last, a copy of which I enclose, the Ration to be supplied is to consist of the following Articles, viz: Eighteen Ounces of Bread or Flour, or when neither can be obtained, of one quart of Rice, or one and an half pound of sifted or boulted Indian Meal, one pound and a quarter of fresh Beef, or one pound of salted Beef, or three quarters of a pound of salted Pork, and when fresh Meat is issued, Salt, at the rate of two quarts for every hundred Rations, Soap at the Rate of four pounds and Candles at the rate of a pound and an half for every hundred Rations. The Contract must also extend to the supply of Rum, Whiskey or other ardent Spirits, at the rate of half a Gill per Ration, and Vinegar at the rate of two quarts for every hundred Rations, when called for agreeably to the aforesaid Act; and to supplies of fuel and Straw. The Contract should stipulate; the prices of the several component parts of a Ration; as well as those of the Substitutes or alternatives for parts thereof. It is expected that Contractors will be governed in the price of the Ration by the quantity to be daily issued at any given post or place. That is, they will require a higher price where not more than fifty Rations are issued daily, than where one hundred, two hundred or any greater quantity is issued daily. I advise therefore that you establish in the Contract or Contracts, the price for Rations at any post or place not exceeding fifty daily — at any post or place not exceeding from fifty to two hundred daily — at any post or place not exceeding from two hundred to four hundred daily — and at any post or place exceeding four hundred daily. You will stipulate that the Contractor or Contractors are to answer all requisitions made for Rations by General Hamilton or Officer acting under his authority. You will be pleased to transmit to General Hamilton, as soon as possible, copies of the Contract or Contracts for his information and Government, and to send the originals. I am Sir, with respect Your obed^t. Servant James McHenry [Jedediah Huntington Esq^r. New London]