expressed in the Receipt — I presume it more properly belongs to your Department. — I am Sir Y^rs William Simmons Nehemiah Freeman Esq^r Department of War, Temporary Pay Master Accountant Office West Point March 19^th 1796 Sir I now take up your Letter of the 1^st of Instant — The claims you mention to be lodged in the Military Chest against Individuals of the Corps do not in my opinion come within the line of your duty to pay — you are to pay the Soldier his money agreably to the Pay Roll, and take his receipt therefor — If any Individual has a claim he may apply to the Soldier to lodge them in the Military Chest or return them for adjustment — it is in my opinion unique and ought not to be done. This will also hold good, as respects the pay of a deceased Soldier — This pay will be paid at this Office to the legal representatives. The Books and papers of the Pay Master ought with out any doubt be in his own possession which must appear obvious to every person — I shall therefore not enlarge on that head — The reason that Doc^r Griffiths pay was deducted from the pay Roll is because I thought he would apply at this Office therefor. I having no information that you paid him. In similar cases I would recommend a remark to be made in the Pay Roll, and that will prevent any mistake in future — The money will be placed to your credit, as also the pay of Jordan Rainey, on your transmitting your Vouchers. I return to you the Accounts of Cap^tn Morris, Serg^t Harris, & Lieut McClellan On the former I have to remark that the charge of 18 ⁷⁹/₉₀ for his expenses in going to New York, for the money — exceeds any former allowance for that purpose — I am therefore of opinion that 10 dollars should be allowed, and no more — the Account of Serg^t Harris may may be paid if [Page 12 YN801]