Niagara October 24. 1796 — Sir. With this you receive my Muster and Pay Rolls for September — We have received no pay since May. I suppose on account of the uncertainty whether BankNotes wou'd answer here — permit me to inform you that they are the best money that can be sent. and may be transmitted by post to Connderoi — and from thence by express to this place — those of Albany & New York are the best: Bills will do in the Spring, but are difficult to dispose of at this season. The Navigation will be stopt in the course of a fortnight — the party of M^r Kerwin's detachment will therefore be difficult to transmit him before May — they suffer for want of clothing I have no news except that our neighbours are much disturb'd by a report of a French fleet being in the mouth of the St Lawrence — they make no secret that the Canadians wou'd on such an event, revolt, and that [undecipherable: the French] wou'd find no resistance but at Quebec [N^o. this has been waiting for an express since the 5 —] I am with regard y^r M^o hum^l [signature] [M^r Simmons]