From Alexander Hamilton to John Brown, 8 March 1791
To John Brown1
Treasury Department, March 8, 1791. “In answer to your Enquiry, I am to inform you that the Contract for the Supply of Articles in the Quarter Masters Department was made with Messrs. Elliot & Williams.2 That they are considered as the persons to whom the Government is responsible for all purches of such Articles.… That accordingly very liberal advances of money for all those purposes have been made to them … no accounts having been yet rendered in relation to the Expenditures for the late Expedition.3 I stand ready the moment any balance shall satisfactorily appear to be due, to pay it.”
Copy, Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore.
1. Presumably this is the John Brown of Frankfort, Kentucky, who represented the Kentucky district of Virginia in the House of Representatives.
2. In 1789 Robert Elliot and Elie Williams had contracted to supply the western posts. See Williams to H, October 10, 1789, H to Williams, October 17, 1789.
3. This is presumably a reference to Brigadier General Josiah Harmar’s unsuccessful expedition against the Indians in the Northwest Territory.