Sec^y of War F. M. March 14^th 1798 Sir I have drawn on you at 30 days sight of this date for 500 D^rs on favor of M^r M^cClelland clerk of Philad^a I was induced to this for the on acc^t in consequence of drafts paid by me for the salary of the [strikethrough: supplies] in the department [strikethrough: S. M. E.] &c of Indⁿ Affairs [strikethrough: S. M. E.] [strikethrough: for the] acc^t for the year 1797 [strikethrough: S. E] am^t of 1500 Doll^s I was destitude for want of money on the acc^t of the factory business & a gentleman makeing me an offer applicable for a while [strikethrough: Which] Col^o Henley advised me to draw on the War departm^t Observing he was authorised for the contingences & [strikethrough: that] ought to drawn for considerable more than [strikethrough: I] had yet applied & that he would mention the currency [strikethrough: in] his report. I have also drawn twice [strikethrough: letters] on full [strikethrough: on] direction for expences of on the Treasy off [strikethrough: one to] [strikethrough: that] Member for [strikethrough: informing] the Sec^y of the Prices [strikethrough: and] [strikethrough: that] with is [undecipherable] on [strikethrough: purpose and] the proper mode draw [strikethrough: on the] money] It will be with difficulty we shall get our [undecipherable: stores] [strikethrough: furs] forwarded for ever if it [strikethrough: fund] to buy the expences of [undecipherable: portation] [strikethrough: more] [strikethrough: oblig'd] me to purchase a team of [strikethrough: four] horses & Waggon & [strikethrough: it] [strikethrough: of] [strikethrough: on] [strikethrough: provided] this expence will be [undecipherable] by the heavy teames & I can keep it constantly going without a drawy more than for forage [strikethrough: for and] if it won't be approved of by [strikethrough: an] [strikethrough: authority] of [strikethrough: the] [strikethrough: United] States [strikethrough: but] by another [strikethrough: one] [strikethrough: they] [strikethrough: have] gone so far as to enter into a contract on oath not to haul but at [undecipherable: their] price * price 360 d. [left margin, written vertically: [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] letter recd the offic'd [undecipherable]]