Captain Dahlgren, of the U.S. Navy, having tested, to some extent, the new powder mentioned within, and having expressed the opinion that a fuller test should be made, which he thinks cannot be satisfactorily done with less than one thousand pounds, I agree to the within terms, as modified by what is written below. The quantity of powder produced for the test may be more, but not less than one thousand pounds, and the sum to be paid for preparing this quantity, shall not be more than the actual cost, nor more than two dollars per pound, nor in the aggregate more than five thousand dollars. When the officers, or other skilled person or persons, I shall select to make the test, shall advise me that in their opinion, the powder possesses all the advantages represented within, and that it has no important fault, I will advise the payment of the one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, for the transfer to the United States, the secret of composing and making said. powder, and the exclusive right, within the United States, of making, using, and vending it to others, to be used. I only promise to advise the payment, because I have not the money at my control which I could, by law, absolutely promise to pay.
December 15. 1862. A. LINCOLN