John Alsop, John Jay, George Clinton, and Lewis Morris to Walter Livingston, 17 April 1776
Philadelphia 17 th Ap l . 1776
Sir
We received your Favour of the 8th Ins t .– 1 The Office of Commissary is extreamly embarrassed–The Commissary Gen al . (who it was expected woud have continued in the Eastern Department) is now (by the Removal of the Army from Bo[s]ton) in NewYork– 2 tho it was originally intended (as we understood) that you as Deputy Commissary General shoud have the sole Managem t . of that Office in the Northern Department–The Provincial Congress of NewYork by the Directions of this Congress entered into a Contract with M r . Ab m Livingston to supply the Army stationed at NewYork with Provissions at the Price you mention p er Ration– 3 When the Pensylvania Batallions were raised (Part of which are now at NewYork) a certain M r . Wharton 4 was appointed by Congress Commissary for those Levies who contracted to supply them at the Rate of 7 d . Pensylvania Currency p r . Ration; which you will perceive interferes with M r . Abraham Livingston–s Contract; But it is probable M r . Wharton who was lately at NewYork & is returned here will relinquish his Contract–The Congress have lately appointed M r . Price 5 Commissary for the Troops in Canada but have not made any particular Contract with him for furnishing the Provissions for that Part of the Army–He is to consult General Schuyler as to the Mode of supplying those Troops and is to be furnished With Money by Congress for that Purpose; Flour & Bread he expects to procure in Canada; but no other Part of the Provissions.
These being the Facts we have but little if any Prospect of procuring any Contract or Appointment for you that we think may be worth your accepting–It is not thought that any of the above Contracts interfere with your Office of Deputy Commissary General which it is likely will continue to be a necessary Office in Albany–Perhaps on M r . Price–s consulting with Genl. Schuyler on the most proper Method of suppling the Army in Canada something may turn up worth your Attention; shoud this be the Case be assured we will not forget you as we consider you as having served the Public in your present Office without an adequate Compensation; for your extraordinary Trouble–We are your Most Obed t . Serv ts .