Before Simmons can report on the arrearages of pay for Capt. Griffith McRea's detachment of recruits at Wilmington, he needs to know whether Capt. McRea is still in service or did his commission as captain expire when he accepted the position of Collector.
Sargent provides exhaustive, and legible, details regarding an incident in which His Excellency caused him to be arrested for his own suit for the sum of two thousand dollars which are professed to be damages inflicted by the Ohio Company.
In response to McHenry's request, Simmons lists the people employed in his office, their administrative tasks, and their salaries. Simmons claims that due to the increase in business, an additional clerk was employed..
McHenry has to apportion salaries that have not been fixed by law so Simmons should transmit the names of the clerks asssigned to his office along with his opinion as to the salaries they should receive.
In two separate documents, McHenry first orders (on May 31) the outfitting of Capt. Edward Miller's detachment, then follows up (on June 30) with a request that Harris deliver to Capt. Edward Miller at Spring Garden 708 cartridges and 118 flints. Miller's return for the same is also included.
McHenry discusses the payment of clerks in the War Department and the reconciliation of funds assigned differently from the previous year. He expresses outrage at the appointment of an additional clerk by Simmons without his consent. He considers this an act of insubordination and orders that the new clerk be dismissed.
Major Craig requests that Hodgdon not send him the Philadelphia Aurora newspaper. Craig asks to be sent Fenno's newspaper instead. Craig acknowledges advances received for carpenters.
Among sundry supply matters, Hodgdon discusses the prospect of war [with France} and hopes that Americans will conduct themselves like men determined to be free.
