Matthew Brown Jun^r Esq^r Accountants Office Rome, State of New York April 25^th 1797 Sir The Accountant being absent, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 17 Inst. enclosing the account of James Gould for carrying the Mail from Rome to Oswego which I have submitted to the Secretary of War and taking the distance as well as every other circumstance attending the Journey into view he is of opinion that he should be allowed but forty Dollars as a Compensation for himself and Assistant. This sum you will accordingly receive from Samuel Lewis Clerk at the War Office which you pay to James Gould taking his duplicate Receipts one of which you will be pleased to forward by Post, and the other by a different conveyance to this Office. I am &c. Peter Hagner Pr. Clk.