Hamilton, Commander-and-Chief, and General Pinckney agreed officers should receive an additional allowance while traveling. It was further specified that there should be rates outlined so officers do not abuse the extra allowances. Further discussion on the subject.
Certification of payments: $626.91 company of 1st Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers, Fort Johnston, South Carolina under command of Captain Michael Kalteisen; for pay of himself, Lieutenant Jonathan Robeson, Surgeon's Mate Frederick Dalcho, including forage, and pay of non commissioned officers and privates.
Swan reports that Wilkinson has put him in charge while away from the post at Cincinnati [presumably Fort Washington]. Discusses some of his instructions and some of the difficulties that have occurred in the execution of the system for the payment of the troops.
Generals Washington, Pinckney, and Hamilton are in Philadelphia to form a good selection of officers for the new army and assist in the arrangements connected with it. McHenry refuses to disguise Washington's opinion of the Directory's conduct. The people appear to be losing their dread of war and have opened their eyes to the policies of the French Directory. The elections in South Carolina appear favorable to the Federal cause. Several counties in Virginia and Kentucky have been thrown into violent convulsions. There are some who believe that an army on paper may be enough to influence France to negotiate an honorable treaty.
None of the contractors, merchants, or engineers have been paid for their work on the fortifications in New York City. Stevens requested money to settle bills or some arrangement for Mr. Furman or Stevens to discharge bills. Those employed are wanting of money immediately due to the yellow fever outbreak that occurred during summer/fall of 1798.
Discusses debt, rents, and the store owned by James Caldwell. Encloses a request to William Simmons - accountant at the Treasury - to pay to Hodgdon a balance of $82.06.
Certification of payments; William Wright for repairing various sundry tents, furnishing the materials agreeably to certificate of Samuel Hodgdon, superintendent of military stores.
Colonel Mentges has been ordered to repair to New Castle to muster and inspect the recruits belonging to Lts. Many and Knight. He will take with him the money to pay the recruits through the end of this month.
Duplicate enlistment receipts enclosed, returned from Simmons due to the paperwork being disagreeable in form. Eddins thought a transcript was sufficient for prior submission, promised compliance with future duplicate receipts submitted to Office.
Refers to letter received from Robert Bird of the House of Bird Lawyers and Bank of London regarding the arrival of a shipment in New York which he hopes to sell to the government. Bird believes that someone will be there to examine the arms and receive the purchase.
