Col. Ebenezr Sproat Marietta NW T. Department of War Accountants Office April 16. 1796 Sir I received your Letters of the 27^th Ulti^mo in Answer to which, I have to observe that the utmost dispatch is recommendable to have your Accounts and Vouchers transmitted to this office as it is a desirable thing to have all advances accounted for as soon as possible. The receipts of Major Craig which you enclosed me from Pittsburg have been passed to your Credit on the Books of this office I am &c William Simmons Capt Staals Morris West Point Department of War Accountants Office April 16: 1796 Sir I received your Letters of the 6^th Inst and have directed M^r Streeman the pay Master to pay the Bounty due to Judah Morrill out of the unappropriated Monies in his hands I am &c William Simmons M^r John Shield Department of War Accountants Office April 16. 1796 Sir In my letter to you of the 10^th of March last, I requested you would pay into the hands of the Treasurer the balance due from Capt Williams power to the United States on the adjustment of his Account — I have now to Request you to inform me if they have been taken to discharge the amount, if not, that I take such Measures as will bring him to a Settlement. I am &c William Simmons The Secretary of War Department of War Accountants Office April 16. 1796 — 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^t to fifteen hundred & twelve Dollars led me to an examination of the Compensation he received during that period of the United States and find that it has been allowed at the Treasury the sum of 2467⁶⁵/100 Dollars as Deputy Quarter Master General and in this office one hundred and thirty Dollars as pay Master to the Troops of the United States at the 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 inasmuch as it would tend to establish a dangerous precedent there being no doubt as Numb[er] of Officers who have rendered extra Services not contemplated by [undecipherable] and who have heretofore never made any Charge who would if this Claim be allowed come forward very justly and Claim a Settlement on the same principal. I Therefore Sir return the letter of Col. Pickering & shall refer M^r Craig to you for an Answer I am Respectfully