1. “An Act providing for the Sale of the Lands of the United States, in the territory northwest of the river Ohio, and above the mouth of Kentucky river,” 18 May 1796, authorized executive action (1 Stat. description begins Richard Peters, ed. The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, from the Organization of the Government in 1789, to March 3, 1845 . . .. 8 vols. Boston, 1845-67. description ends 464–69). For the seven ranges in what became east central Ohio, see JCC, description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends 28:375–81.

2. McHenry probably meant George Wallace (c.1748–1812), a judge in Allegheny County, Pa., from 1788 until his death. Wallace represented Allegheny County at the 1797–98 session of the Pennsylvania House.

3. GW replied to Wolcott from Mount Vernon on 11 July: “Your Letter of the 5th instant came duly to hand. The preparatory arrangements for the sale of the Lands, remaining unsold, in the seven ranges of townships in the No. Western territory being complete—I think from the accounts given of George Wallace, he would be a suitable character for the trust of superintending the sales at Pittsburgh in conjunction with the Governor or secretary of the North W. Territory, & desire he may be empowered accordingly. Genl John Nevill is, I conceive, a fit person to receive the money proceeding from these sales, & that from his other public employment he ought to do it upon more oeconomical terms, & if he will do it, let him be appointed thereto” (LB, DLC:GW). Wolcott wrote letters to George Wallace and John Nevill on 15 July informing them of their appointments (see Carter, Territorial Papers, description begins Clarence Edwin Carter et al., eds. The Territorial Papers of the United States. 27 vols. Washington, D.C., 1934–69. description ends 2:562–63).

4. See Timothy Pickering to GW, 27 June, and n.2 to that document.