W. D. Accountants Office June 11^th 1794 Sir The Secretary of War has directed that Nicholas Fish Esq^r Supervisor of the district of New York, shall pay to you the sum of Two thousand dollars being for the incidental and contingent expenses of the War Department for which you will receipt to be accountable. I have received your letter of 29^th May last with its inclosures. The manner in which you have paid the ordinance men is improper, I shall be obliged to take up the pay rolls made out by you and after examination remit you the amount of them in future you will send in the rolls for my examination and that the money due thereon may be advanced before you pay them. You have also been in an error in paying money to M^r Lott which with what he has received from this Office exceeds considerably the sum due him. it is to be observed as a general rule that no payments should be made but for the express purposes of the advance from this department. I am Sir &^c George Fleming West point Joseph Howell