War Department 24^th Nov^r 1798 Sir, The most [undecipherable], and important business of the Department of War, [strikethrough: requiring] demanding, and fully occupying, much the greatest portion of my time, and attention; I deemed it proper, to refer to you, several applications from Officers and Agents, for compensation for services performed, or allowances for expenses, and to require of you to state, and report, what in each particular case, would be a reasonable and proper allowance, or such facts, within your knowledge as would facilitate, and were necessary, to enable me, to determine; with a full knowledge of circumstances, the sum to be allowed, on such applications To such references, you have evaded, or declined furnishing the information, or report. in manner required. I allude in particular, to the cases of Col. Heath, and M^r George Gale Agents, and that of the Officers, who attended, and composed and the Gentleman, appointed as Judge Advocate on The late Military Courts at Trenton, and the I shall first observe — respecting the Members and others, called to attend the Courts mentioned. That it is the province of the Secretary only, as the proper Executive organ, to determine, where, by whom, and in what manner, Officers charged, and arrested, shall be tried, whether his authority is derivative or original, need not be examined [Missing Page/s]