To George Washington from Jabez Bowen, 20 February 1796
From Jabez Bowen
Philadelphia Febr. 20 1796
Sir.
The principal design of my Visit to this City at this time was to endevour to make a settlement of a Cannon Contract subsisting between the Ud States & The Owners of the Furnace Hope (of which I am one) I have had a Meeting of the Heads of the Departments but find no Incouragement from them. The contract is made and must be finished by somebody, as it particularly belongs to the Department of War. the now Secretary wishes some Time to examin into the situation of the Business. while this is delayed the Business of the Contract is partly suspended and the Stock consuming in the Furnace for other purposes which ought to be appropriated to fullfill the Contract with Government.1
’Tis with the greatest Reluctance that I intrude on you at this Bussey Time but knowing your desire that Justice should be Established in general and in particular to all who make Contracts under the Government of which you are the Head, I have presumed to make this application Requesting that you would signify to the Secretary at War and the other Heads of the Departments your Desire that this (to me) preplexing Business might be brot to some Just and Equitable Conclusion. I Remain Sir. with the highest Esteeme Your Exellencies most Obedient Servant
Jabez Bowen
ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters.
1. The Hope Furnace was located on the North Branch of the Pawtuxet River at Hope, Rhode Island. Bowen probably is referring to the contract made by its proprietors on 8 Aug. 1794 for the delivery of cannon to the United States (ASP, Naval Affairs, 1:53–54). Although that contract called for delivery to be completed in May 1795, questions had arisen about the quality of the cannon, and the contract was still to be completed in November 1795 (Hope Furnace owners to Timothy Pickering, 23 Nov. 1795, RPJCB: Brown Family Business Records). A document submitted to Congress in 1798 by Secretary of War James McHenry states that the proprietors were paid $16,910.95 for the delivery of cannon (ASP, Naval Affairs, 1:43).