Now I have all the images. Let me compile the full transcription from the primary document (pages 1–4). Pages 5 onward are marked "Other Copies" and are not transcribed. *Articles of Agreement,* Made on the *fourth* day of *September* Anno Domini, one thousand eight hundred ———————————— between SAMUEL DEXTER, Secretary for the Department of War of the United States of America, of the one part, and *Edward Thomson of the City of Philadelphia* *Merchant* of the other part. THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH, That the said SAMUEL DEXTER, for and on behalf of the said United States of America, and the said *Edward Thomson* for himself, his heirs, executors and administrators, have mutually covenanted and agreed, and by these presents do mutually covenant and agree to and with each other, as follows viz. *First.* That the said *Edward Thomson* his executors or administrators, shall deposit, supply, and issue all the rations herein specified, and which shall be hereafter required of him or them for the use of the United States, from the first day of October, one thousand eight hundred ———— to the thirtieth day of September, eighteen hundred ———— one at the respective places and prices following: *For every complete ration issued at Oswego, at Pittsburg, at Fort Franklin, at Le Bœuf, at Cincinnati, at Picque Town and Loramie's Stores, at Fort Defiance, or at any place below Fort Defiance on the Miami River to Lake Erie, Twelve Cents and Seven mills; at Niagara, Fourteen Cents; at Detroit, Sixteen Cents and Three mills; at Presqu' isle, Fifteen Cents and eight mills; at Michilimackinac or at Fort Wayne, Eighteen Cents; at Fort Knox & Ouatanon on the River Wabash or at Massac, Fifteen Cents, and at any place or places on the River Mississippi, above the mouth of the Ohio, and up from the Illinois River, Twenty Cents.* Should any rations be required at any places, or within any other districts not specified in this contract, the price of the same shall be hereafter agreed on betwixt the public and the contractor, but it is to be understood, that it is in the option of the public to require the delivery of the rations at any of the enumerated places or posts, though designed to be consumed at other places or posts, paying the stipulated prices at the places of delivery; provided, that if the contractor shall have been required to deposit provisions at one place or post, and shall afterwards be required to remove them, to be delivered at another place or post, at which the price of the ration is lower than at the first mentioned place or post, the price to be allowed for such provisions so removed, shall be that which is stipulated to be paid at the said first mentioned place or post, together with the expences of transportation to such other place or post. *Second.* That the ration to be furnished and delivered by virtue of this contract, shall 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 bolted 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; and whenever the commander in chief of the army, or the commanding officer of any separate detachment, or garrison thereof shall so require, half a gill of rum or whiskey, or other ardent spirits, and whosoever supplies thereof shall be on hand, vinegar at the rate of two quarts for every hundred rations. It is understood and agreed, that when the proper officer shall make no requisition for ardent spirits there shall be no issue of the same, and a reduction in the price of every ration, of which ardent spirits make no component part, be made conformably to a scale hereinafter agreed upon. It is understood, that it shall be in the option of the general, or officer commanding an army or a great military district, in all cases not otherwise provided for by this contract, to direct when, and how often fresh or salted meat shall be issued by general orders, to be promulged a reasonable time before the issue is to commence; that in all cases where salted provisions are issued, the article salt shall not be required; that the contractor shall always issue flour two days in every week, and the option of bread or flour for the remainder of the week be with the contractor; that in the delivery of bread, flour or meat, one per cent. shall be deducted from the gross weight of every parcel weighed, for draft and wastage, but each parcel weighed, shall include no greater number of rations than are sufficient for a regiment; nor shall there be any allowance where it comprises less than one hundred rations; in lieu of this allowance, the commanding officers of corps and detachments may require deliveries by companies. *That where the price of the Ration shall be Twelve Cents and Seven mills, that of each of the component parts shall be as follows, viz; Bread or flour Four Cents; Meat Five Cents; Liquor, Two Cents; Small parts, one Cent and Seven mills.* *Where the price of the ration shall be Fourteen Cents; Bread, Five Cents; Meat, Five Cents; Liquor, two Cents three mills; Small parts, one Cent Seven mills.* *Where the price of the Ration shall be Sixteen Cents and three mills; Bread, Five Cents five mills; Meat, Six Cents; Liquor, Two Cents eight mills; Small parts, Two Cents.* *Where the price of the Ration shall be Fifteen Cents and eight mills; Bread, Five Cents five mills; Meat, Six Cents; Liquor, Two Cents five mills; Small parts, one Cent eight mills.* *Where the price of the Ration shall be Eighteen Cents; Bread, Six Cents; Meat, Seven Cents; Liquor, Three Cents; Small parts, Two Cents.* *Where the price of the Ration shall be Fifteen Cents; Bread, Five Cents five mills; Meat, Five Cents five mills; — Liquor, Two Cents five mills; Small parts, One Cent five mills.* *Where the price of the Ration shall be Twenty Cents; Bread, Seven Cents; Meat Seven Cents; Liquor, Three Cents five mills; Small parts, two Cents five mills.* —— *Third.* That the said *Edward Thomson* —— shall furnish such quantities of like provisions at the posts of Oswego, Niagara, Presqu'isle, Detroit, Fort Defiance and Fort Wayne as shall be sufficient for the consumption of the troops for the space of at least *Six* —— months in advance, and at Michilimackinac *as shall be sufficient for the consumption of the troops for the space of at least Nine months in advance.* *Fourth.* That no whiskey, or ardent spirits, but such as has paid the excise, shall be purchased by the said *Edward Thomson* ——— for the purposes stipulated in this contract. *Fifth.* That whenever or as often as the provisions stipulated to be furnished under this contract, shall, in the opinion of the commanding officer of the post, be unfound, or unfit for use, a survey shall be held thereon, by two disinterested persons, one to be chosen by the commanding officer of the post, and the other by the said *Edward Thomson* — or his agent, and in case of disagreement, a third person to be chosen by mutual consent, who shall have power to condemn such part of the provisions as to them may appear unfit for use. But if the said *Edward Thomson* — or his agent, shall fail, or neglect, to appoint a person to inspect the said provisions, within five days after demand being given by the commanding officer of the post, which notice shall be in writing; then, and in that case, it shall be lawful for the said commanding officer to appoint such persons as he may think proper, to inspect the provisions, under oath, with power to condemn as aforesaid. *Sixth.* That the commanding general, or person appointed by him, at each post, in case of absolute failure, or deficiency, in the quantity of provisions contracted to be delivered and kept up, shall have power to supply the deficiency by purchase, at the risk and on account of the said *Edward Thomson*. *Seventh.* That whenever any articles constituting the whole, or any part of the ration, shall not be in store, and withheld from the officers and soldiers, due bills shall be given therefor, payable within two months by the delivery of the articles withheld. If, at the expiration of the said two months, the contractor, or his agent, shall not deliver the articles expressed in the said due bills, within ten days after demand being made therefor, payment for the articles withheld shall be made in money, by the contractor, or his agent, at the contract price. *Eighth.* That the said *Edward Thomson* — or his agents, shall, at each post, or place, where supplies shall be required, under this contract, render a monthly abstract to the commanding officer thereof, specifying the quantity and species of the supplies on hand. *Ninth.* That all losses sustained by the depredations of an enemy, or by means of the troops of the United States, in articles intended to compose rations, to be issued under this contract, being the property of the contractor, as well as in other property necessarily used in transporting the same, shall be paid for at the contract price of the rations, or the component parts, and at an appraised value of the other articles, on the deposition of one or more creditable characters, and the certificate of a commissioned officer, when the same can be obtained, ascertaining the circumstances of the loss, and the amount of the articles for which compensation is claimed. *Tenth.* That escorts and guards for the safety of the provisions, and for the protecting of the cattle against an enemy, shall be furnished, whenever, in the opinion of the commanding general of the army, or of any post, to whom application may be made, the same can be done without prejudice to the service, and that the said *Edward Thomson* ————— shall not be answerable for any deficiency of supplies, at any of the said posts or places, if it shall appear, upon satisfactory proof, that such deficiency was occasioned by the want of proper escorts and guards. *Eleventh.* That at all the stationary posts, proper store-houses shall be provided on behalf of the public, for the reception and safe-keeping of the provisions deposited from time to time; and the contractor shall suffer no loss for want of such stores. *Twelfth.* That the said *Edward Thomson* —— his executors, or administrators, shall render his accounts to the proper officer for settlement, at least once in every six months, agreeably to such form as by the Comptroller of the Treasury may be established and made known to him. *Thirteenth.* That whenever the Secretary of War shall, in pursuance of this contract, and on account thereof make advances or payments to the said *Edward Thomson* ———— the said *Edward Thomson* ———— shall receive as cash, if requested by the said Secretary, drafts from the Secretary of the Treasury in his favour, on the collectors of the revenue or other persons holding public monies in the vicinity of any of the above mentioned posts. *Fourteenth.* That all advances of money as may be made to the said *Edu'd Thomson* — towards the supplies to be furnished, pursuant to this contract, and, all such sums of money as the commander in chief may be obliged to disburse, in order to procure supplies in consequence of any failure on the part of the said *Edward Thomson* —— in complying with the stipulations herein contained, shall be duly accounted for by him, by way of set off, against the amount of such supplies, and the surplus, if any, repaid to the United States immediately after the expiration of the term of this contract, together with an interest at the rate of six per centum per annum, from the time of such expiration, until the same shall be actually paid. And that if any balance shall, on any settlement of the accounts of the said *Edward Thomson*, his executors and administrators, be found to be due to him or them, for or by reason of the rations which shall be supplied, pursuant to this agreement, the same shall immediately be paid. And that no unnecessary or unreasonable delay, on the part of the officers of the United States, shall be given to the settlement of the accounts of the said *Edward Thomson* ——— his executors or administrators. AND WHEREAS, by a certain agreement made on the *First* — day of *August 1799* — between JAMES M'HENRY, then Secretary of War, and *James O'Hara* ——— of the State of *Pennsylvania* —— it was stipulated, that the party of the second part should deposit *Six* — months supplies of rations at *The posts of Oswego, Niagara, Presqu'isle, Detroit, Fort Defiance and Fort Wayne; Nine months supplies of Rations at Michilimackinac; and three months supplies, if required, at the other posts and places mentioned in this Contract,* ——— it is agreed between the said SAMUEL DEXTER and the said *Edward Thomson* ——— *First.* That an inventory shall be taken as soon as possible, which shall comprise all such supplies as shall have been delivered on or before the last day of September next, by virtue of the said agreement, and shall on that day remain unexpended. *Second.* That the inventory shall be taken in the presence of the commanding officer of the post, and the party of the second part or his agent, and duplicate receipts given therefor by the said party of the second part or his agent expressing the quantity and quality of each article. *Third.* That the party of the second part shall account to the United States for all the supplies which shall be receipted for, as in the preceding article, he being allowed however a deduction of twelve and an half per cent. as a full allowance for wastage, leakage, and damage of whatever nature, excepting only such losses as may be occasioned by fire, water, an enemy, or by the troops of the United States. *Fourth.* That the party of the second part shall issue all the supplies as aforesaid, to the troops at the several posts, in rations to consist as follows, viz. Eighteen ounces of bread or flour. One pound and a quarter of fresh, or one pound of salted beef, or three quarters of a pound of salted pork. Half a gill of rum, brandy, or whiskey. And at the rate of two quarts of salt; two quarts of vinegar, four pounds of soap, and one pound and [an] half of candles to every hundred rations. *Fifth.* That the said party of the first part shall pay or cause to be paid to the said party of the second part, one cent for every ration which he shall issue as before recited, as a full compensation for his trouble and expence in issuing the same. IN WITNESS whereof, the said Secretary of War, on behalf of the United States, hath hereunto subscribed his name, and affixed the seal of the War-Office of the United States; and the said *Edward Thomson* ————— hath hereto set *his* hand and seal the day and year first above written. Signed Sam^l. Dexter Edward Thomson [seal] Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Jn^o. Newman Bej. Rogers *Be it remembered that it is further agreed by and between the parties to the above Contract that the party of the second part shall during the term thereof supply and issue all rations that may be required at any place between Cincinnati and the mouth of the River Ohio, the now usual issues at Fort Massac excepted, at the same price as is therein stipulated to be paid for those supplied and issued at Cincinnati, the component parts to be calculated at the like rates.* [E. Thomson Contractor] [Contract with Ed. Thomson from 1. Octob. 1800 to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] In North [undecipherable] Contract with [undecipherable] Thomson]