[Vol. 13, No. 65] 65. Treasury Department April 19. 1793 Sir The requests contained in your letter of the 15 of April have been complied with. There are two points arising out of the Estimate of the Q^r Master General, which you transmitted, to which I beg leave to call your attention. One Item of Expenditure in the estimate is 450 Pack- Horses [undecipherable] has been noticed to me by the Accounting Officers that there appear to have been already expended in the purchase of this article a [undecipherable] sum by the present Q^r Master's Department And it is recollected that a very considerable number of horses were purchased and paid for, [strikethrough: before] for the [undecipherable] of the Campaign [undecipherable] under General [undecipherable], a great part of which furnished the Campaign and [strikethrough: were] it is understood were put out to be recruited for future Service. This renders it desireable that Inquiry should be made what ultimately became of those horses — what are the calculations upon of the quantity of transportation for which [undecipherable] expence a provision of pack horses is [undecipherable] [undecipherable] submit also to your consideration whether under the prospects of the Campaign the provision need be made at once to the [undecipherable] contemplated or may be made successfully, so always as to be in measure for ulterior operations — The maintenance of a superfluous number of Pack horses, when not required for service, [strikethrough: is not only merely expence] but perhaps has an unfavorable side on the score of [undecipherable]. Whether the procuring them much sooner than they will be wanted may not have other inconvenience is for you to determine. In making these Suggestions, [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] I do not mean to throw any impediment in the way of timely preparation. This is a primary idea. But if [undecipherable] can be [undecipherable] could delay in [undecipherable] not injurious, it is [undecipherable] to be desired. Another Item in the Estimate of the Q^r Master General is 12000 dollars for pay of his Department to the 1^st of July. This sum appears considerable and [undecipherable] especially as separate sums are [undecipherable] estimates for [undecipherable] Master Waggon Masters and Drivers — No light on this head can be obtained from any accounts heretofore rendered at the Treasury. I understand you that none was possessed by your department. [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] an inquiry into the circumstance — With respect & Esteem I have the honor to be Sir Your Obed^t [undecipherable] The Secretary at War [Marginalia: Apr [undecipherable] 1793 / [undecipherable] / Received]