Under consideration is the account of John Wilkins, Quartermaster General for disbursements made in Philadelphia by Hodgdon as his agent between July 1 1796 and December 31 1797. Steele notices that in Abstract 4 there is a charge for $6000 for a 65-ton sloop, a sum Steele considers so incredibly high that an explanation is in order. Steele requests the authority under which the purchase was made as well as evidence that proves that the Secretary of War sanctioned this payment.