Department of War Accountants’ Office February 25 th 1796

The Secretary of War-.

                         Sir
                             The claim made by Mr. P. H. Pirrault as contained in his letter to you of the 26th of January 1796 in my opinion must be considered inadmissable. he appears to have been appointed (in consequence of an Act passed to provide for the defence of certain parts and harbors in the United States Vol. 3 pa.16) by the Secretary of War on the 1st of April 1794 as Temporary Engineer at Charleston So Carolina at a Salary of 4 Dollars p Day and other allowances for Expences. in October 1795, he applied at this Office for a Settlement of his account which was settled upto the 30th of September 1795, at the same time the Secretary of War made a further advance to him of Two hundred and forty four Dollars to complete his pay upto the 3oth of November at which time it was understood he was to be out of Office, the business for some time before in a great measure having ceased.-

                                           I am Sir (indeciperable)
                                                William Simmons