To M^r James Byers Jun^r Sir, War Office, June 14^th 1796 To enable the Secretary of War to exhibit to the President, from time to time, the actual situation of the Indian trade, and state of the stock employed to carry it on, it will be necessary that each factor should lodge with this department a copy of his day book, which should contain all invoices of goods received for the Indian trade, all goods sold to the Indians, and entries of all furs and peltry received in exchange therefor, with every expense and transaction respecting the business; So that regular accounts may be raised from the same. You will, therefore, be pleased to make out a copy of your day book down to the present time, which you will transmit, and keep this department regularly furnished with a copy of each successive Months transactions. I am Sir &c [signed] James McHenry