Embezzlement and Responsibility in Failure to Deliver Contracted Powder
Item
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Title
Embezzlement and Responsibility in Failure to Deliver Contracted Powder
Description
Wheelen discussed charges of embezzlement and his "unique situation" as contractor. Also described his responsibilities in failure to deliver powder.
short description
Ltr, des powder contract shortages
year created
1799
month created
03
day created
29
author
recipient
sent to location
Philadelphia
in collection
notable person/group
Samuel Hodgdon
Israel Whelen
Miller
Francis
notable location
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
Frankfort
Frankford
powder mills
notable item/thing
powder
salt petre
property
wages
notable phrase
request contained in your letter
I will state as correctly as I can what I meant to convey to you in the conversation I held with you some time since
some expressions
from you
I took up the idea
a suit was to be instituted for the recovery of the powder due
and the embezzlement of the salt petre stored at the powder mills near Frankfort
I expressed a wish that
previous to its being done having an opportunity of stating my peculiar situation. Hope that s the prosecution of such a suit against me, divested
of all property
could be of no possible use or advantage to the United States
I might be legally answerable
blame
nearly if not quite the whole quantity contracted for had been once delivered
a part ad been returned to Mr. Miller as not equal to the contract
I had
procured salt petre to replace it
but the ill health
compelled me to go into the country without attending further to it
Mr. Miller had at that time nearly fifty tons of nitre in his possession
after my return from Virginia Mr Miller assured me the powder was nearly all delivered
with respect to the nitre belonging to the public, I doubled if I were legally answerable for it
thought otherwise
might yet preclude me from doing any thing for the support of a very numerous family
I never had anything to do with the management of the power mills
in consideration of the capital which I furnished not rent should be charge
only the wages of the workmen at the mills
his estate hear Frankfort
with respect to the storing of the nitre belonging to the public I was never consulted about it
Mr. Francis
I place full reliance on his veracity & integrity, yet the strong impression I feel on my own mind of it and of Mr. Miler blaming me
I find on inquiry that several tons of our nitre were frequently stored in some of the buildings there
the precise time when the nitre was used by Miller or anything more respecting it is unknown to me
spring or summer of 1797
requested by Miller to speak to Mr. Francis in his favor that he might contract with him for manufacturing it
I accordingly applied to Mr. Francis and told him that thought Miller since he got into difficulties had considered me as his enemy yet is far from being the case
thought I did not approve his conduct in every instance yet I believed he would if he contracted with him, faithfully comply with his contract
Mr. Francis replied that he
had always intended
to give Mr. Miller a preference provided he wold do it as cheap and as well as another
it is difficult to state conversations or circumstances that happened so long ago
the foregoing is the best & most correct statement I can form after reflecting much on them.
document number
1799032980201
page start
1
Item sets
Transcribe this document
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (4 pages) | XDB02 (4 pages) | Collection: Consolidated Correspondence File, 1794-1890. (RG92) | B: 1232, F: Israel Whelen |
| [view document] (4 pages) | XDB02a (4 pages) | Collection: Consolidated Correspondence File, 1794-1890. (RG92) | B: 1232, F: Israel Whelen |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Israel Whelen | [unknown] | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Samuel Hodgdon | Philadelphia | [n/a] |