The Sec^y of War: Department of War Accountants Office January 8^th 1796 Sir On the 14^th April 1795 immediately after my appointment to this Office, an account was presented to me by a M^r John Nicholson, charging his Services as a Superintendent and Inspector of Arms, from the 12^th of July 1794 to the 31^st March 1795 at the Rate of 70 Dollars P^r Month, amounting to 606 [undecipherable] Dollars with the following Certificate annexed thereto Viz — Philad^a April 11^th 1795 — I Certify that in " consequence of a written order, received from the late " Secretary of War, I notified John Nicholson of his " appointment of Superintendent of Armourers, and " [strikethrough: xxxxx] that his pay as such, should commence on " the 12^th of July 1794 as above stated — (Signed) Sam^l Hodgdon On a reference to your Office the following Note was made — War Office 14^th April 1795 } On comparing the records of the War Office, I Certify, that the above certificate of Samuel Hodgdon is true in all its parts. (Signed) John Stagg J^r Cl^k from the above I am led to believe that M^r Nicholson had been regularly appointed, under the Act of Congress of the 2^d of April 1794 for establishing Arsenals and that he was appointed by the President of the United States in consequence of which his Salary has been since allowed the 1^st Instant amounting to the further sum of 630 Dollars. In Examining the accounts of Samuel Hodgdon lately under this Office as Superintendent of Military Stores I found that he was paying persons for doing the duty of inspecting and superintending which I supposed should be required of M^r Nicholson, upon enquiry of M^r Hodgdon he informs me that he has no control over M^r Nicholson and does not call on him for any such service. I have therefore from the above information thought it proper to apply at your Office for an Extract of the late Secretary of War's Letter of the 12^th of July 1794 referred to by M^r Hodgdon. This I presume was wrote under an expectation that there would be a national Armory fixed in this City on the same Act of Congress of 2^d April 1794 this letter mentioned that, "He will be Superintendent but it will be necessary first to obtain the President's approbation" the Act of Congress made it absolutely necessary that the appointment should be made by the President of the United States, this does not appear to have been done, I shall therefore in future not conceive myself authorized to admit any further charge of M^r Nicholson for his pay as Superintendent, unless his appointment shall be confirmed according to Law, and would wish that the proper Steps be taken to Notify him thereof — I am Sir y^r ob^t Ser^t William Simmons