[From A. Hamilton 29^th August 1793 Ans^d. Ca. 16[undecipherable]] W.D. Ca aug 29. 93 Sir The original papers of which I herewith [strikethrough: undecipherable] Copies, were a few days since [undecipherable: probable "drawn"] out from the [undecipherable: probable "Accounts"] office, as Vouchers for amounts transmitted by M^r. [undecipherable] Pay Master of the Troops, & for which he [undecipherable: probable "claimed"] — The indications which they contain, that the [strikethrough: undecipherable] instructions which [undecipherable: probable "have been transmitted"] by the Treasury have not been pursued, renders it my duty to submit [undecipherable: probable "them"] to your consideration — By the Act making alterations in the Troops & War Department, the following duties are enjoined upon the PM. of the Troops. Firstly. To receive the Pay abstracts of the Pay Masters of the several Reg^ts or corps & compare the same with the Returns or Muster Rolls which shall accompany the said Pay abstracts — Secondly. To certify accurately to the Commanding Officer, the sums due to the respective corps which have been examined as aforesaid— And Thirdly to transmit to the Accountant of the War Department, copies of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] by the Commanding Officer & of the Warrants [undecipherable] therein. — It clearly appears to [undecipherable: probable "have been"] the design of the Law, that all monies destined for the pay of the Army [undecipherable: probable "should pass through"] the hands of the Pay Master of the Troops, [undecipherable: probable "there"] to remain, until the Muster Rolls & Pay Master Abstracts [undecipherable: probable "have been"] [undecipherable: probable "rendered"] & the sums due, certified to the Commanding Officer, [undecipherable: probable "and that"] the Pay Master of the several Reg^ts [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to the Accountant of the War Department, for the distribution of the money among the Troops, according to the rules given in the Rolls to on which the [undecipherable: probable "advances had been"] made. — To this arrangement of duties the instructions have corresponded & unless they are strictly pursued by the P.M. of the Troops, it is evident that no check can be maintained on this expenditure — It will however appear from the enclosed Papers that large sums have been advanced on vague estimates; where no Pay Rolls, or only [underline: partial] muster Rolls had been exhibited. — [undecipherable: probable "If"] all this practice is continued will subvert the system for adjusting the accounts of the Army, unless I take the liberty to request that some measures may be taken to arrest its progress — [From A.H.]