[Minute] Philadelphia 24^th Dec^r. 1798 Sir The Duty which you orderd me to do this last Summer, was of such a Nature, that it would be impossible for me to bear the expence which it occasiond to me, without injuring my fortune. Obliged just to live in a Town at a greater expence than doing Garrison Duty; I was compelled to go and travel during an extent of many hundred Miles, live in Taverns, and spend beyond the emoluments of my place. Certainly, Sir, in exacting from me more duty than from any other Officer your intention is not to place me in such a situation, that my pay added to the allowance which you give me, will not support me in the extra expence which you thus force me into— What am I to do in such a case? to refuse complying with your Orders, certainly I ought not to do. To you, Sir, I apply to represent my case to the President: I am ready to do any kind of duty which you order me upon; I do not ask to get a fortune from the service, but when I exert myself with all my abilities, the service certainly ought to support me— The Inspectorship of Artillery seems to have been calculated for the kind of duty which you order me upon; the emoluments provided by the law, seem to be the criterion of the extra allowance which ought to [undecipherable] to me, since I do the Duty which he will be [undecipherable] as August last, I applied to obtain [undecipherable] a very pressing letter to the President; many other friends wrote to you on the subject, and should the President honor me with that appointment, it would at once make any further application and difficulty for other allowance unnecessary. I request you would again present & support my Petition to his Excellency.— I repeat, Sir, I am ready to obey any future Orders, but request, to prevent the painfull necessity of an appeal for reimbursement, that you will be kind enough before I return to Newport, to fix the mode and manner I shall receive pay hereafter for extraordinary Services. Sir I am Devoted to the United States, and whilst I live they may Command. your most Obd.^t & very hum.^ble Serv.^t Lewis Tousard