[Wars R] Report [undecipherable] upon the Claims of Major Nath.^l Smith Cap.^t Theodore Bliss and Col.^o Christian Senf 20 April 1790 Ent^d The Commissioner of Army Accounts upon the claims of Major Nathaniel Smith, Cap.^t Theodore Bliss & Col.^o Christian Senf [undecipherable] respectfully Reports — That his opinion on the Claim of Major Smith upon the United States is altogether improper — he never received a commission as an officer in their armies nor does it appear that he was in the employ either of State or Continental [undecipherable] the end of that month was the termination of his services and the State of Maryland has paid both pay [undecipherable] in resolution of pay to that date — If the Legislature of the State has made engagement with Major Smith which amounts to a promise of commutation of pay, it cannot in this case be considered as obligatory upon the Union and still has his remedy against the contracting party — That there does not appear any Balance upon the Books of his office in favor of Cap.^t Theodore Bliss and untill his demand is particularized or the extent known [undecipherable] cannot tell how far he is intitled to compensation In the case of Col.^o Senf, the Commission is unfurnished with documents sufficient to return a satisfactory report. If he rec[eived] a Commission under the authority of the United States and continued in their force untill the termination of the War he has then an equitable right to all his emoluments annex[ed] to his Commission — But here a question arises whether the State of So Carolina has not interpos[ed] in behalf of this Union and gets indeed that [undecipherable] to Col.^o Senf which he was intitled to receive from from the continent untill this question is resolved in the negative and the law of Congress limiting the time for presenting [undecipherable] Commissioner cannot think himself authorised to issue certificates for the Pay & Commutation of Half Pay which he claims All which is Submitted Office of Army Accounts J H Comm.^r 10 April 1790 the Hon.^ble Secretary at War