M.G. Houdin Accountants Office Ordnance & m^ily Store keeper April 19^th 1797 Albany Sir The Secretary of War has thought proper to augment your Salary to Five hundred & ten dollars p^r Annum, including Rations and every other emolument, to commence on the first day of the present year. Your Salary therefore from the 1^st January to 31^st March 1797 amounts to One hundred & twenty seven dollars [remainder of line cut off], which will be remitted you by Samuel Lewis Sen^r Clerk in the War Office; on the receiving the same you will be pleased to transmit him your duplicate receipts for the amount. Should you have drawn any rations or supplies from the Contractors subsequent to the 1^st Jan^y you will be pleased to pay him for the same, as you are not allowed any thing more than your Salary as now rated. I am &c Wm Simmons Acct.