[C. Swan rec^d 30. Dec^r 1796 Ans.^d Same day] Detroit 20 Novem^b. 1796 — Sir I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 16 July, 3^d. 10^th 16^th and 23^d. September and 18 October 1796 and their several enclosures. I am glad to find by the new organization that the double pay and forage to Sadler Masters and Pay masters [undecipherable] the allowance was always contrary to my opinion and you will perceive that my objections to it [undecipherable] not to be [undecipherable] a by a peremptory order. — I have reported my appointment [undecipherable] the accounts of the Sub-Legionary Pay masters and although I have urged the necessity of settlement in the strongest terms I have [undecipherable] [undecipherable] those of M^r. [undecipherable] of the 3^d Sub-legion which will be forwarded to you by this conveyance. I believe however [undecipherable] I have [undecipherable] all the others in the course of a few [undecipherable]. The [undecipherable] and unsettled State of the different Corps of the [undecipherable] before the arrival of General Wayne and the vicious [undecipherable] of all the Pay masters during [undecipherable] were the causes of delay — They are now [undecipherable] — It is to be regretted and I am very sorry to learn that the accounts of Captain [undecipherable] exhibit [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] for the necessary attention to your instructions [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. I [undecipherable] also [undecipherable] the more [undecipherable] particular of [undecipherable] Officers joining from [undecipherable] as to the time [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] also [undecipherable] in your office, to Officers from the Army who do not produce certificates from their Pay masters. I [undecipherable] expect that the monies received by me on bills negotiated after paying the Troops to the 30 April 1796 would have afforded a surplus of one month['s] pay or more. But in consequence of the receipts of Officers for subsistence money of the [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] of the Soldiery for the [undecipherable] of bounty due to them — the receipts also of payment in full to the Officers [undecipherable: disbanded?] on the 31 October 1796 — and the calls of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] dispersed [undecipherable] and going [undecipherable] in different [undecipherable] I have been obliged to appropriate it as follows to wit — Pay an advance to the Army to 30 of [undecipherable] 1796 inclusive. Subsistence of Officers to the 30 June 1796 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] arrears of bounty to recruits [undecipherable] Pay subsistence and forage in full to [undecipherable] Officers to 31 Octob^r. [undecipherable] inclusive. Pay sub[undecipherable] and forage in full to the [undecipherable] up to the 31^st [undecipherable] 1796 [undecipherable] therefrom Brig[undecipherable] Gen[undecipherable] [undecipherable] and his [undecipherable] who are [undecipherable] to the 31^st August 1796 and [undecipherable] farther. I am again authorized to draw bills for the pay of the Troops for May, June, and [undecipherable] 1796 but they cannot be sold here. There is no money in this country but what has been drawn from the Treasury of the United States and [undecipherable] by our army. That portion of it which centers in Detroit is made use of that small [undecipherable] [undecipherable] portion the British agents collect from the merchants as much as serves to pay the [undecipherable] Troops and Engineers at the [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable], at St. Josephs and at the [undecipherable] of Sainte Mary, for which they give bills on [undecipherable]. Hence I am of opinion that a further supply of money for the pay of the Troops of the United States [undecipherable] if possible be forwarded from the Treasury. I have drawn for Sets of bills for One Thousand Dollars each and placed them in the hands of [undecipherable] Vance [undecipherable] Pay M[undecipherable] & Sub Leg[undecipherable] now at Cincinnati to be negotiated by him for Cash at that place. This sum is as much as that place can afford at [undecipherable] time, and seems to be the only resource left on this side of Kentucky. I have the promise of a considerable sum in this place from a M^r. [undecipherable] provided that M^r. Macomb of New York shall direct him to receive my bills for the purpose of remittance. M^r. Mac Intoch informs m[e] that he has written to M^r. Macomb for [undecipherable] on the subject and there is no doubt but my bills will be preferred, but I cannot learn to what amount. I should not conjecture that the demand of this place for bills on Philadelphia and New York would exceed 10,000 dollars in the spring and perhaps about the same sum in the fall. I am with respect Sir your Most Obed^t. Serv^t. C Swan Pm. G^us. P.S. Nov. 24. 1796 The Snow had fallen so early and the weather is so severe that it is uncertain whether the [undecipherable] can make [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] accounts mentioned in the foregoing letter C Swan [undecipherable] William Simmons Esq^r. Accountant department of War Philadelphia