Observations on Cap^t William Pickard Account as Stated from the 24 October 1794 to April 1796, when acting as Pay Master to the troops in the Territory South of the Ohio. Cap^t William Pickard was appointed Deputy Paymaster the 20 October 1794 by the Secretary of War, and continued in the appointment to the 17 April 1796. He was appointed in the place of David Allison who was found unworthy of trust. His pay was to be equivalent to such services, it is therefore stated by the Agent at twenty Dollars per month, additional to his pay as a Captain as the services rendered as Paymaster is in the opinion of the agent of that value. The monies to enable him to discharge the Militia claims was advanced in small sums upon loose receipts as was to prevent the late Governor Blount from borrowing of him, as Cap^t Pickard is a man of easy aspect, the evil was proper to be guarded against, and tho this precaution was taken, he did actually borrow fifteen hund- red dollars, but the close manner in which he was watched, drew it immediately back again. This fact Cap^t Pickard informed M^r Byas of. At the end of the payments the Money advanced for Militia services was stated in one Abstract, and the pay Rolls examined, by which it will appear he produced vouchers to nearly the amount advanced, and then he receipted on the pay Rolls for the sums actually paid him by the Agent, and took up his loose Receipts The manner of paying the Monies and receipting was not agreeable to instructions, but it was such as kept every payment within the Agents view, and prevented injury to Cap^t Pickard and the public; The Agent having examined every voucher after him, and made great part of the payments himself to the Claimants, he is convinced the Vouchers will prove right, and therefore has no particular remarks to make against them. He sends on M^r [undecipherable: probable reading "Ellis's"] Remarks who has examined the business, and has some small objections to a few of the Vouchers, and also en- closes two receipts which he suspects were omitted. In a former report made by the Agent to the War Office, he states, that Cap^t Pickard had made use of Blank belonging to the public, this is charged to him in a late Account. He also states that a Medical Chest valuable had been misused, so it has been, but Cap^t Pickard denies that it was by him. All his Accounts have been settled up to the 30 September 1797, and the amount paid him, exclusive of the balance of Six hundred eighty six dollars and [undecipherable] Cents [undecipherable] stated upon his paymasters Account due him. The last Accounts shall be forwarded next post. The facts are submitted to the Accountant for the War Depart- ment, but in the opinion of the Agent they are justly stated — David [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Knoxville the 27 February 1798 [marginal notation, rotated: undecipherable] William Simmons Esquire