West Point, March 1^st 1796 Sir, I have received from you two letters dated the 20^th instant. I am happy in obtaining whatever will point out the boundaries of my duty. Of the orders, which I have received from the Commandant, some are intricate and contradictory, others involved and loose. I have ventured on some occasions to make mention of your directions, and have heard in reply, that he, not yours was Lieutenant Colonel Commandant of the Corps, and as such, was, by the Pay-master, to be implicitly obeyed. The last money, which you transmitted for the pay of the troops, was according to his order, lodged in the regimental chest by M^r Freeman in his private capacity, the Commandant observing that M^r Simmons might remit the money to a corporal of the props, but that the paymaster was an officer of his appointment, and must act under his controul. Although I do not wish to remain long in my present office, I think it incumbent on me to mention some of the circumstances, which, in my opinion, tend to create confusion. Whoever has claims against any individual of the Corps, are directed to lodge them in the hands of the Paymaster in order that they should be paid out of what is due them, and he is to retain their pay if they refuse to discharge them. I have now lodged in my hands demands in small sums to the amount of nearly 500 dollars. Of these claims some are merely insured, but by far the greater part are gaming debts, futile accounts, and notes of hand given at the rate of four dollars for one received. The nature of these demands have been represented to the Commandant, who replied, it was nothing of my business, if the men chosed to pay them. I have been directed at first, to pay a dead man's debts, afterwards to transmit to your office the proofs of all his debts, and finally to wait till the adjutant had drawn up his proceedings verbal. I have been ordered to lodge with the Commanding officer at Governors Island the pay due at the end of February a detachment lately marched thither. this however, I have refused, and the detachment was paid by Captain Morris at New York, out of the money he received there. The books and papers of the Paymaster are to be deposited in the regimental chest, locked by three keys, kept by three different persons, so that no reference to any of them could be obtained without trouble, and [undecipherable: mistakes], if any arise, difficult to trace. The monthly company muster rolls have been repeatedly denied me, and in Consequence, the regimental muster and pay rolls have for the two months past, been too late transmitted to your office. The men are ordered to be paid within a very short time, or the payment is delayed from day to day, so that few can be paid at once. The regiment, hereafter, is to be paid four times each month instead of twice. It is extremely painful to enumerate these circumstances; and nothing but a Sense of Duty could extort them from me. I am perhaps mistaken; but they have appeared as difficulties to me, and it would be but fair that my Successor should know, what they are to be [undecipherable: governed]. I understand, that it is contemplated to allow by Law a paymaster to the Corps. When the act is passed I shall decline my present appointment; and the officer will be desirous to enjoy the same priviledge as those in the western army. I have paid the bounty to Captain Blackburn's recruits. With sincere respect, I have the honour to be, Sir, Your very humble Servant, Const. Freeman L^t A&E Temp. Paymaster at West Point. [William Simmons Esquire.]