I received last Evening your Excellency’s Letter of the twenty Sixth of Febry with the Enclosures. I am extreemely happy to find that the present Contract is conducted in an agreeable Manner. The Expectation that it would be so, rendered me less solicitous about filling the office of Inspector (which I had offered to Brigr General Williams) hoping thereby to save to the Public that Expence. Should your Excellency be of opinion that such an appointment is necessary I will endeavor to fill it leaving Mr Wikoff in the mean Time to do the duties which you have directed.

I observe from your Excellency’s Letter to Mr Sands that after an Infraction of your order by him when an apprehension was expressed, that confounding the Issues of the two Contracts might perplex the accounts, he declared that the matter was perfectly understood, and agreed upon between him and me. Lest this assurance should be construed more extensively than Truth will authorize, I must trouble your Excellency with a State of the Fact—When it was conceived most for the good of the Service, that the Contracts should be joined, it was agreed that all the Rations should be charged at ten Pence, that your Excellency should determine which of the Troops should draw under the West Point Contract, and that a half-Penny per Ration should be deducted from such Issues. I am with Esteem & Respect Sir your Excellency’s most obedient & humble Servant