To Mr James Byers jun'r Sir, War Office, Decem'r 3^th, 1796 You will receive herewith certain forms established by the Treasury Department for the government of the Agents or factors, in keeping their accounts, who have been appointed under the act of Congress passed the 18^th of April last, entitled "An act for establishing trading houses with the Indian tribes." I am Sir &c [Signed] James McHenry To Mr James Byers jun'r Sir, War Office, Dec'r 21^th, 1796 I have received your letter of the 9^th November setting, with respect to your request for permission to retain Mr Carey exclusively. I shall write to Mr Dinsmore on the subject, who will inform you whether he can be wholly or partially given the Factory. If the former, he is to be about three hundred dollars per annum and his board, which is to be charged to the Store. At the same time, should any occasion occur to render his services useful to Mr Dinsmore, he is to understand that they are to be rendered as heretofore. You have stated, in letters to the Purveyor, that you can buy upon the Spot, or delivered at the factory, hominy at 8½ per[?] Virginia currency, Lead at 8 [undecipherable], and Salt at 14 dollars per bushels. Lowrey is also mentioned as another article that may be procured cheaper with you than here. Both our prices will make these articles come lower than they can be sent from this town, I shall instruct, Col Henley to purchase such quantities of them, or either of them, upon your requisition, as you may stand in need of from time to time, to be paid out of the proceeds of your remittances. The difficulties attendant upon the trade in which the public have engaged, and frequent alterations in the prices of Indian Goods, render it expedient that it should be conducted in such a manner as that it shall produce a net annual profit, wherewith