War department, January 25 1793. Sir I have received your favor of the 18^th inflant, and the returns of ordnance and military stores on hand, and articles received fince laft return. I am very defirous of receiving monthly returns, and due information of the delivery and confumption of all ftores. I fuppofed the quarter mafter general had fixed your compenfation, as a deputy quarter mafter general. I do not know that I have the power of fixing of it at an higher rate. I believe you paid unremitting attention to the erection of the block houfes at Pittsburg, but I never conceived you were to have a feparate compenfation for that fervice. Indeed were feparate fervices compenfated, this meafure would lead to the moft pernicious confequences — A public officer ought to have a fixed and known compenfation for his fervices, and his whole time — It then is a contract. Believing, as I do, that you are of great public fervice and