Relates the minutes of a conversation between James McHenry and John Adams on the evening of May 5, 1800, which immediately preceded McHenry's tendering his resignation from the War Department. Adams believes Hamilton to be "a man devoid of every moral principle, a bastard."
Transmits to President Adams his recollections of the conversation which passed between them the evening before his resignation. Also transmits copies of letters from Mr. Grove, Governor Davies, Major Stagg, and General Darke.
Writes that he does not know if the United States has received its shipments of cartridge paper from London. Adds that this is last day of duties as War Secretary.
Major Isaac Craig discusses accounting matters with Samuel Hodgdon. Craig also solicits political opinions regarding the "artful democrats" and Federalist reactions.
Henley financed personal property to repay Thomas Lee money owed him by government. Henley requests money to settle accounts. Henley is willing to make over his property in Alexandria to the government in order to be free of the mortgage.
Pinckney is busy preparing for the reduction. The 10th Regiment will march to Pennsylvania there to be disbanded and the 9th Regiment to Maryland for the same purpose. Cost of marching troops to Pennsylvania for discharge could be avoided if they were disbanded in the state of their current post. Protested War Departments current entrenchment in forms and etiquette, requested bounty money and allowance for recruits.
Routine correspondence concerning the appointment, transfer, promotion, discharge, desertion, leave, and assignment of individual officers and soldiers.
Hamilton assures Rice that he will write the Secretary of War to urge a reimbursement for the musical instruments that were purchased prior to the discharge of the troops.
Samuel Hodgdon tells Major Craig that he will attend to the contents of his letter as early as possible, it having been mislaid by his messenger wife. Hodgon notes that the Department is up in arms and in confusion at present. Part of the public offices are gone and the remainder are packing up and that the politics of the day are "unfathomable." Hodgdon sends his respects to Col Hamtramck and will send him a pair of spectacles.
Simmons received accounts and vouchers from Crocker for the troops at Charleston. However, accounts from previous months remain suspended. Simmons wrote Mr. Craft on the missing accounts and vouchers but never received an reply and therefore Simmons wrote Crocker requesting account information immediately.
Certification of payment; $949.17 to Michael Gunkle, Contractor for Pennsylvania for rations, quartermaster, and hospital supplies and expenditures for the use of troops of the United States marching through Pennsylvania.
Certification of payment; $1422.85 Samuel Hodgdon, for pay of persons employed in the military store department, rent, and purchase of five standards and pattern infantry coat
Certification of payment; $226.60 to Lieutenant Nanning Vischer, 2d Regiment of Infantry, balance on settlement of account for recruiting, and payments made in Quartermaster Department, including subsistence. .
Letter from the Secretary of War in his final days in office. McHenry appears to speak in ambiguity about his successor, unknown to this point to McHenry. Samuel Dexter would replace McHenry.
