To Alexander Hamilton from John McClallen, 6 June 1799
From John McClallen, 6 June 1799
New York 6th. June 1799
Sir
I have collected from the most extensive Importers in this City patterns of white flannel and common Linen; to shew the utility of adopting the flannel in preference to the Linen.
The former is more durable and it will afford greater comfort to the Soldier than the latter; it may also be the means of continuing him in good health, especially when removed from a Northern to a Southern Climate where he of consequence will be subject to be exposed to heavy dews—
I have annexed a statement and affixed patterns of the Cloths, with the prices—
Linen | |||||||
4/4 wide, of which 3 1/2 Yards are requisite to make a Shirt—at 35 Cents per Yd. is |
1,22.5 | Mills | |||||
4 Shirts (a soldiers annual allowance) | 4 | $4,90 | |||||
Flannel | 3/4 wide—3 1/2 Yds to make a Shirt at 37 Cts per Yd is |
129.5 | Mills | ||||
3 Shirts to be his annual allowance | 3 | ||||||
370.5 | " | ||||||
1 Yd. of Linen (which is sufficient for 2 dickeys) | 50 | ||||||
|
18.7 1/2 | 439.2 1/2 | |||||
in favr of the flan⟨l⟩ | 50.7 1/2 | Mills |
I humbly submit the within statement for your inspection; with an expectation that an experiment may be made on the Company, I am shortly to recruit
I have the honor to be, Sir Your very Obt Servant
Jno McClallen Capt.
1st Regt A & Engrs
(ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).