Lieut Col.^o Stephen Rochefontaine West Point — New York Accountants Office Dec. 5^th 1796 Sir I received your letter of the 25 Ultimo, altho Serg.^t Majors & Quarter Masters have been allowed heretofore, I dont conceive myself authorized to make the allowance after I have discovered the principle to be an erroneous one. I have therefore made the deductions from the Pay Roll, allowing to each Sergeants Pay only. Agreeably to what I wrote you on the 25^th Ultimo. the money you advanced to L^t Robinson agreeably to his Order in your favor is this day forwarded to Col.^o Fish at New York subject to your Order. I am &c. W^m Simmons Acc^t.