To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 15 October 1794
From Tench Coxe1
Treasury Department, Revenue Office, October 15, 1794. “It is the opinion of the Secy at War that provisions in advance amounting to 37,000 Drs must be forthwith laid in by the contractors for 1795. I have the honor to request an advance to them (Messrs. Scott & Ernest)2 to that amount.… I have the honor to enclose a letter from the Secy. of War wh. having relation to advances of Provisions & consequently to advances of money it is proper that you should possess it.”
LC, RG 75, Letters of Tench Coxe, Commissioner of the Revenue, Relating to the Procurement of Military, Naval, and Indian Supplies, National Archives.
1. For background to this letter, see H to Coxe, April 4, 1794.
2. Alexander Scott and Matthew Ernest were the contractors for provisions for the Army for 1794. Their contract is dated October 10, 1794 (copy, Isaac Craig Papers, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). Their account with the United States may be found in RG 217, Miscellaneous Treasury Accounts, 1790–1894, Account No. 9812, National Archives.