Houdin's pay is due for 6 months. Requests him to send orders. Reports difficulty and expense of storage of powder at his post. Requests information about kinds of casts in which powder is contained and whether it will be appropriate to transport. The payment of the rent will be affected.
Certification of payment; $1034 to Company of 2d Regiment Artillerists and Engineers stationed at Fort Adams Rhode Island under command of Captain John Henry.
Simmons informs McCall to resubmit the claim of Aaron McKinzey to the Quartermaster's Department for settlement. McKinsey's claim is for damages done to his cornfield by public horses.
States that three permanent magazines - for the safekeeping of military stores - will suffice for the United States, located in Springfield, Massachusetts; Harper's Ferry, Virginia; and Rocky Mount. Suggests that a fourth one be in Philadelphia.
Encloses a copy of correspondence between himself and Major General Pinckney, along with a letter to Colonels Rice and Hunnewell on candidates for regimental surgeons and surgeons' mates. States the current numbers of troops on the frontier are not sufficient. Also mentions potential religious instruction for the troops.
Forwards letters concerning General Pinckney, as well as the issue of appointing surgeon's mates for Hunnewell and Rice's regiment. Advises against recourse to the "act to regulate the medical establishment," saying that regimental medical staff should be sufficient for the near future. Notes that the current allotment of chaplains is one per every four regiments, but that the disparate nature of the four old regiments makes such an arrangement impractical. Recommends that chaplains for the new regiments, which will be more concentrated at named geographical locations, be selected from among those who have applied, once the regiments have been formed.
Articles of agreement between James McHenry and Rufus Hopkins and Sylvanus Hopkins of Providence Rhode Island for and on behalf of Hope Furnace to furnish cannon of various caliber, to include 24, 18, 12 and 9 pounders. Details the process of proving and inspecting the cannon.
Based on an investigation of the contractor's accounts for 1798, it is obvious that the provisions that remained on hand at the beginning of the present year must be public property. If the contractors had not been paid, his own interest would have induced him to regain possession of this property
