Sir Philadelphia Indian Queen 16. Feb^r. 1798 I am very sorry to observe, that it requires but little penetration to discover, that there is that kind of disagreement between you & the Secretary of War respecting your official duties, which cannot but impede the business of the department. But, have no Idea that I ought to submit patiently, or quietly, to any personal inconvenience or detention on this account.— But when I put you in mind of the very great anxiety, which I have manifested ever since the receipt of your letter of the 8^th of Novemeber, (the first call upon me) and the exertions which I have made at this severe Season, to come on with my Militia Vouchers, and not to leave a single cent unaccounted for by me; and that my accounts were presented in such order, as to pass a satisfactory examination in a few hours, I hope I shall be excused, if I express some concern & chagrine, at having been kept [strikethrough: unnecessarily] in a state of suspense ten days, merely to learn, whether my charges for compensation, are to be admitted, or not; for 'tis clear, fully that time, since my account was submitted by you, to the Secretary of War.— This account, was made out under an expectation of extra [strikethrough: pecuniary] compensation, for extra Services; the face of which, I confess, presents an appearance of high charges; an Idea, which nothing could be expected to remove, but a thorough knowledge of the manner, in which I had executed the business. If this, the Secretary, could not be expected, to be acquainted. And as I was, by agreement with the late Secretary of War, to be rewarded according to my Services, the present Secretary on receiving your letter of the 6^th [undecipherable] covering my account, requested certain information from you, within the line I presume, of your official duties.— Your answer, & which you were good enough to shew me, before it was sent— does not, in his opinion, (as I observed to you, it did not in mine) afford the information he required.— My claim, therefore, remains undecided upon; and, I am consequently detained at considerable expence, & great private inconvenience, for, I cannot think of leaving Philadelphia, until my account with the United States, on this subject, shall be finally closed.— I must therefore, Sir, after first returning you my thanks for the personal attention, politeness, and respect which you have hitherto shewn to me, insist upon your giving Yes, or No, to the following questions. You require nothing more; since you have disclaimed an unwillingness to state facts generally, in the way, which you conceived, the Secretary wished you to speak.— 1^st Question.— Were not the Militia employed against the Pennsylvania insurgents in the year [underline: 1794] paid, under the agency of the Pay-Master general, for the following Terms of Service— Viz.— Those from Virginia [undecipherable] 4 mon[ths].— from Maryland 3 months [undecipherable] days.— from Pennsylvania [blank] Months [blank] days— from Jersey [blank] months, and [blank] days?— 2. Does not the pay-rolls, together with the vouchers which I have rendered, for the faithful application of the additional pay, of the Virginia Militia, prove that, (so far from being governed by the former pay-rolls as to the term of Service,) the term for which I have made payments does not average 3 months? 3. Does it not appear that the whole amount of additional pay, actually paid by me, ascertained to be due, does not exceed 45.800 [Doll^rs?]— [Then say— if 8 months give $30,800— what will 4 months give? to shew my having—] 4^th. In these rolls, have I not stated the precise Terms of Service of each company, as well as in the cases of Individuals, who died, or were discharged at different periods &c. and have they not all, without a single exception, the marks of my own personal examination, & extension?— 5^th. By the mode of investigation which I adopted, have I not recovered from Individuals, (placed to the credit of the United States, not only in my accounts certified, but by deductions from the additional pay-rolls), a sum, by no means unworthy of notice, which had been overpaid to them, thro' various channels while in Service, and which, could never have been known, had I been governed by the former [undecipherable] pay-rolls?— 6. Does not the pay-rolls for additional pay, [undecipherable] by the agent for paying the Maryland Militia, correspond exactly, as to term of Service, with the former rolls? As the Pennsylvania Militia received no additional pay.— Did M^r. Dallas do more than make payments to Regimental pay-masters or to Commanding Officers of Corps.? 8^th. Has there been any Money returned, as being recovered by other agents from Individuals, who might, like some of the Virginia Militia, have been overpaid? Being informed that the agent for the Jersey Militia, has not yet rendered his accounts, I can ask no questions relating to the manner in which he discharged the duty assigned him.— But answers to the foregoing questions, will enable the Secretary of War to decide immediately upon my claim; and Surely, you cannot hesitate one moment, to give me this satisfaction.— Since you will not, by doing so, give an opinion, as to the reasonableness or unreasonableness of my demand; nor will you appear, as [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] stepping out of the line of duty, to compliment one agent at the expence of the others, who have been employed in this business; because, the questions all relate to certain facts, supported by documents now on your table, and which may be answered in ten minutes time. I shall therefore hope to be excused, for pressing an immediate answer, for I have surely, having fully [undecipherable] my affair, a right, to expect a decision, and the Secretary says, he cannot with propriety pass, or reject my account without that information, which plain answers to the foregoing questions, [undecipherable] will afford him.— I am Sir, very respectfully Your M^st Ob^t Serv^t [signature] [William Simmons Gen^l]