Certification that $20.16 is due Ensign George W. Stall, being the balance of his pay from the date of acceptance of his appointment to 31 August 1798.
Includes various departmental budgets, allotments for Indian gifts, bounties, subsistence for officers, forage, troops' pay, maintenance of defenses, the building of a grist and sawmill, troops' equipment and other military stores. Most or all of these are for the forces of "the old establishment," not the 12 new regiments raised by Congress for the conflict with France [the Quasi-War]; calculations for those units are in McHenry's cover letter to this document.
Ebenezer Stevens confirmed shipment of military stores on board the Sloop Hercules. In writing to Samuel Hodgdon, Stevens notes that he is sorry to hear about the deplorable conditions as a result of the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia. Hopes that Hodgdon and connections may escape the calamity. New York is in a very unhealthy state and vast numbers of inhabitants have fled to the country.
Revenue Cutters, Eagle and Diligence required cutlasses, pistols, flints, and powder before they could set sail. Due to current state of calamity in Philadelphia, Stoddert requested and order be sent to Mr. Hodgdon or Mr. Harris for the articles required.
Returns blank commissions. Speaks disparagingly of Major Brooks's appointment. Defers to McHenry and Stoddart to make decision as he considers Brooks a total stranger. Discusses appointment of General North. Requests attention to troops of North Carolina.
Addresses libels uttered by Major Brooks; Adams says he leaves it to McHenry and Stoddert to make a decision about the man's fitness for appointment. States that General North must accept his appointment as offered, and should not expect negotiation on its finer points; asks McHenry to reply to "the corps of horse" of Warren County, North Carolina.
Authorizes the commissioning of generals of the army in the order of Knox, Pinckney, and Hamilton, and asks McHenry to call Knox and Hamilton into service whenever he deems fit. Answers McHenry's demand for explanation of an implication of McHenry in the relative rank intrigues by saying that he believes McHenry has always dealt with him candidly, but that he perhaps influenced Washington into asking that Hamilton be made first general in the field. However, Adams declares the matter settled.
Adams felt that McHenry believed the unanimous opinion of the public and the Federalists was that Hamilton should be appointed first. Adams negated this sentiment as false, noting that McHenry brought this opinion to Washington too forcibly, thus causing him to give the first commission to Knox.
Hodgdon instructs General Nevil relative to the expenditures from the large sum resulting from the sale of land belonging to the United States. They would include payments to agents of the Quartermaster's department and the drafts of Major Isaac Craig.
Certification that $855.55 is due a detachment of recruits under the command of Captain Edward Miller, being the pay of the non-commissioned officers and privates through August 1798.
Anderson is pleased that Hodgdon is well although the risk he is taking is too great. Nothing has been with the Phillips affair so Hodgdon should pursue it. The cannon will be sent down as soon as the sickness is over.
