Nehemiah Freeman Esq^r Temporary Pay Master West Point Sir Department of War Accountants Office March 19^th 1796 I now take up your letters of the 1^st & 11^th 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 agreeably 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 receive them for adjustment is in my opinion improper 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 without 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 passed to your credit as also the pay of Jordon Kersey on your transmitting your Vouchers. I return to you the Accounts of Cap^t Morris, Serg^t Harris & Lieut M^cClallen. On the former I have to remark that the charge of 18 [undecipherable] for his expences 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 be paid if [undecipherable]