Collection

Transcription Project

• Fortificiations at Alexandria

  Informs Secretary Knox that after waiting nearly two months for the necessary materials to begin work at Alexandria, he is still without them, and has found it necessary to retire to Annapolis to visit what has been done there during his absence. Desires that he may not be blamed for the delay.

• Letter Citation

  Cited in Knox to Lee, 08/25/1794.

• Letter Citation

  Cited in Eaton to Simmons, 02/16/1795.

• Letter Citation

  Cited in Howell to Spaight, 03/13/1795.

• Fortifications of North Carolina

  Letter to the Secretary of War regarding the construction of various fortifications off the coast of North Carolina.
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  Disbursements for Naval Objects

  Advances have been made in the amount of $18,000 to $20,000 for the purpose of mounting cannon and other expenses of fortifying the harbours and contingent expenses of the ordnance department.
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  Estimate for SouthWest Territory expenses for 1793 to 1794.

  This is Henley's general estimate of the expenses incurred for the defense of the Southwestern Territory for 1793 with Governor Blount's estimate for the ordinary expenses of governments for the ensuing year 1794.

• Conference on the Whiskey Rebellion

  Conference concerning the insurrection in western Pennsylvania. Washington begins the conference by stating that the "most spirited and firm measures" are necessary to counteract the Whiskey Rebellion because it threatens the very existence of the Constitution. That said, Washington insisted that the federal government not overreach beyond the bounds of the Constitution, and to work with the Pennsylvania government. Thomas McKean, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, warned that "the employment of military force, at this period, would be as bad as anything that the Rioters had done - equally unconstitutional and illegal." If left to the courts, McKean argued, the rioters could be prosecuted and punished without resorting to military force. Secretary Hamilton, naturally, "insisted upon the propriety of an immediate resort to Military force."

• Payment for ironmaster

  The Commissioner of the Revenue requests a payment to be made to John J. Feach & Co., a well-known ironmaster of New Jersey, of the sum of $5000 on account of a contract made with them for the casting of a quantity of kentledge or iron ballast and cannon ball.
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  Ballast for the Boat

  Hodgdon is asked to send a servant with the boatman to show him where to land the [?] for ballast.

• Deposition on the Whiskey Rebellion

  Francis Metges makes an oath that he arrived at Pittsburgh on July 22 and continued there until the 25th. On the 17th of July, several groups of armed men made repeated attacks upon the house of General John Neville, Inspector of the Revenue, for his enforcing the unpopular excise tax on the western Pennsylvania frontier. His house, barn, and stables were burnt down by the said assailants. This event and others, collectively, were later known as the Whiskey Rebellion.

• Letter Citation

  Cited in Stagg to Hodgdon, 08/01/1794.
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  Exoneration of Accountability of Lt. Campbell Smith

  Receipts have been received from Mr. Swan for the money transmitted to Lt. Smith for the pay of troops so Smith is exonerated from any accountability in the transaction.
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  Pay and Forage of the Troops in Georgia

  The Treasurer had been directed to remit to John Matthews, Supervisor of Georgia, $2802 for the pay and forage of the troops in Georgia for June and July 1794.
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  Pay and Forage of the Troops in Georgia

  The Treasurer will remit to Matthews $1802 for the pay and forage of the troops in Georgia for June and July of 1794
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  Advance Pay for Capt. Blackburn

  The Secretary of War has directed a remittance of $120 to Blackburn though the hands of George Gale, Supervisor of Maryland, for three month's advance pay as a Captain in the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers.
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  Pay Advanced to Capt. Richard Blackburn

  The Treasurer will remit to Gale $220 to be transmitted to Capt. Richard Scott Blackburn for three month's advance pay.
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  Patterns for Casting Iron

  Hodgdon is to deliver to Tench Cox, Commissioner of the Revenue, two patterns for the casting of iron for both a thirty-two and and a twenty-four pounder, to be delivered to the bearer, Mr. Gitts.
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  No Temporary Buildings

  The Secretary of War [Knox] does not approve Hodgdon's proposal of erecting temporary buildings for the infant armory because the public cannot afford the extra expense.
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  Request for New Frigate Model to Allow for New Pattern Kentledge [Ballast]

  Directs that another model of the frigate(s) to be built be sent to Commissioner of the Revenues Tench Coxe, to make allowance for a new pattern of kentledge [nautical scrap metal for ballast] for those frigates.
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  [No. 25] Notification of Receipt

  Letter containing list of stores, abstract of expenditures, and dispatches from Major Gen. Wayne arrived. Nothing received from Major Butler.
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  Assignment and instructions as Superintendent of frigate to be built at Philadelphia

  Instructions, duties and responsibilities as superintendent. Activities must conform to public interest. Treasury of United States will make special contracts for the principal materials. Naval Agents will provide all materials not otherwise provided by Treasury. Workmen and laborers to be furnished by agents in pursuance of constructor requisition. Constructor has direction over workmen. Clerk of the ship yard receives and accounts for all public property. Ensure best materials used; no deviations from instructions issued regarding proportion of hull. Report weekly to Secretary of War the number of workmen employed and progress made in execution.
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  Regarding casting of kentledge and request for another frigate model to be made

  Mr. Tench Cox, Commissioner of revenue has made another contract for casting of kentlege [permanent ballast] for a frigate. Requests that Humphreys have another model made. Asks that Humphreys call on Levi Hollingsworth to view some of the kentledge.

• Letter Citation

  Cited in Ames to Knox, 08/07/1794.

• Dimensions of masts, yards and spars

  Secretary Knox encloses to the Commissioner of the Revenue a table of the dimensions of the masts, yards, and spars, for the 36-gun frigates.