War Department August 9, 1793 N° 113 Sir, I directed Mr. Hodgdon to transmit you the balance of your estimate amounting to Four thousand seven hundred and fifty eight dollars and ten [cents?]; but he has just written me that he has no more on hand than Two thousand six hundred and eighty one dollars, which I have ordered him to transmit to you, and the balance shall be remitted the next post. Your estimate of expenses after the first of July must be [undecipherable] and you must inform me how much of that estimate is indispensable before the first of September, and it shall be sent you. Whilst it is desireable on the one hand that large sums of public Money should not be advanced from the public Treasury to lie useless in the hands of public Officers, so it is important on the other that the public service should not suffer for want of Money. The expenses and advances to the Quarter Master General have already exceeded the estimates that were made for that department; but the [service?] must not languish, although there seems to be between the Quarter Master General and you a great defect as to money arrangements. For myself I have a confidence in your [undecipherable] industry, but it is of the highest importance to your own convenience that all your money arrangements should be made with the greatest accuracy. Some dispatches of importance will be prepared for General [W.?] by the next post. You will therefore surely have prepared an express that will well moved to set off at the arrival of the next post. The commanding Officer must furnish you three Men. [Sara.] [&c.] Your humble Servant H Knox [undecipherable] Major Isaac Craig