Sir,

Since writing the foregoing¹ I have received an unexpected Requisition from General Hand a Copy of which I inclose to you. I therefore take the liberty to request you will do me the favour to contract with & send to this place four Boat or Ship Carpenters & the articles mention'd below as early as possible.

Tomorrow I shall give directions respecting the Crooked Timber & Plank—And as we have every necessary Tool here the Carpenters need wait for nothing, nor to bring more with them than their Cloaths & Blankets. I hope you will excuse my troubling you on this business & that you will be so good as to advance the necessary money until I come down.

M^r: [blank] Stewart (Father to Major Stewart taken on Staten Island)² proposed to me the building of arm'd Boats on the Ohio & I believe would undertake the six Boats now order'd that he might acquire a more perfect knowledge of the Country & for a better Judgment of his proposed private undertaking.

As he has a number of his own Workmen I think it would be well to send an Express to him on this business, requesting his attendance at York if he inclines to undertake the business.

A considerable number of other Boats will be wanted as I formerly wrote to you but I have received no orders respecting them. I am with respect &c.—

[P.S.] For your information I inclose to you the Contract of the Carpenters who built the last thirty Boats. I could wish the article of Rum to be left out if possible in the new Contract but I would not let this delay the Business—The Materials may be directed in case of my absence to M^r: Joseph Skelton.

The Materials wanted will be

Rudder Irons & Pintles
Six Pump Spears & Boxes,
Six large Ring Bolts
12 Iron Potts for Cabouses—
1 large d^o: to boil Pitch in & two Ladles—
Two thousand weight of Deck Nails & Spikes assorted—
Canvas & Blocks necessary: for Sails—
Cordage for d^o:—& for Cables.—
12 Barrels of Pitch—
2 d^o: Turpentine—
600 lb Oakum
Sail Twine
Sail Needles
500 lb largest Rod Iron—

6 Rheams of Paper— 2 doz: ink Powder— 4 hundred Quilts— 1 lb Sealing Wax— 1 lb Wafers— 2 good Penknives—

for the Commissary's Department

at Beaver Creek I doubt not Congress are fully inform'd of by General Hand to whose Letters I beg leave to refer & remain with the greatest respect &c—

Sir,

Since writing the foregoing I have received an unexpected Requisition from General Hand, a Copy of which I inclose³

I am taking the necessary measures to comply with the General's order—to enable me to do this Business I must beg the favour of Congress to send to me by the Bearer James M^c:Clellandwho goes Express for the Commissioners four thousand Dollars. I am with great Respect &c.