Treasury Department

                       December 2nd 1794

Sir

Your letter of the 23rd of November is this moment received___

Governor Lee while in the Western Country informed me after the steps had been taken, that he had been under a necessity in two in-stances to facilitate the return of detachments of sick men, of calling upon Mr. Smith to ad=vance Moneys to Them ___ The inconviences of the Measure could not but strike at fuih exes, you the motices were laudible, and in collateral aspects the measure capedient __ But it was to late to disapprove or remedy. My answers would of course accord with the State of things _ __ __

Unapprised of the means in yours of Mr Smiths Command on the extent of this extra demand I am wholly at a loss how to meet in with accuracy.  But as I ought to suppose it cannot exceed two thousand Dollars

Dollars. I have instructed the Treasurer to send you Blank Drafts for that [undecipherable] to be placed on yourself as Supervision on the Collection of Alexandrai or the Cashier of the Bank of the United States as occasion may require. For the next I must interest you to do the Best which circumstances admit, in order that no body may be compromolled and the public interest may not finally suffer. With Great consideration & Esteem I am Sir Your Obedient Servant. [Editors Note: Written on the left side, vertically (Recorded)] Edward Carington Esq Agent for Military Supplies __