Department of War Accountants Office April 16. 1796— The Secretary of War Sir The Claim presented by Major Isaac Craig for extra Services from 1^st May 1791 to the 1^st of January 1795 amounting agreeably to Col Pickerings letter of the 12 Inst to fifteen hundred & twelve Dollars led me to an examination of the Compensations he received during that period of the United States and find that he has been allowed at the Treasury the sum of 2467 44/100 Dollars Deputy Quarter Master General and at this office six hundred and thirty Dollars as pay master to the Troops of the United States in upper posts of the Ohio from 1^st December 1793 to 31 Dec^r 1794 being at the rate of Ten Dollars per Month (the pay allowed to regimental pay masters by law) From those allowances which appear to me liberal and that as there is no law that will authorize the payment of his Claim I am of opinion that it is inadmissible the more so as it would tend to establish a dangerous precedent there being no doubt a number of officers who have rendered, extra Services not contemplated by and who have heretofore never made any charges who would if the claims be allowed come forward very justly and claim a settlement on the same principal. I therefore Sir, return the letter of Col Pickering & Vouchers for M^r Craig to you for an Answer I am Respectful