[FREE] [Schenectady Aug^t 30 1798 Secretary at War Writing Simmons of to [undecipherable] & ans: 5 September [undecipherable] us] William Simmons Esquire War Department Philadelphia SCUEN AUG•30 William Simmons Accountant Schenectady 30 August 1798 Dear Sir By people from Niagara & Oswego, we hear often that the troops complain very much of not getting their pay. Our business with Canada has lately grown to be something considerable and of course our remittances considerable too. Upon hearing of the discontent of the troops at the want of pay, and our friends often feeling the want of safe conveyances it struck us that perhaps some arrangement might be made equally beneficial to Government & them, by which our friends in Canada might pay the Cash, they would remit us, at the Garrisons of Niagara or Oswego & receive Government Bills provided Government would pay those Bills in New York to our order. The benefit resulting from this would be that Government could not have the trouble nor run the risk of transporting money so far, the troops would get well paid in hard cash and more cash would be kept in that part of the Country. As we raise much more cash from that quarter than would pay both Garrisons there would be no risk of deficiency. We stated the purport of the above to our friend Major N[undecipherable] who [undecipherable] convinced of the propriety of it and desired us to write you on the subject. At his request we have taken the liberty of doing so hoping the business may meet the approbation of Government. The present freedom your excuse — Will you please, on receipt of this, to write us whether any thing is likely to be done in the business, We remain Dear Sir your very Humble Ser^ts Porteous Murdoch & Co M^r Simmons Esquire War Department Philadelphia