[Secretary at War] Navy Department 29^th January 1799 Sir Two difficulties occur in the Statement of the account for the first Cruise of the Ship Ganges — Cap^t Dale contends that he should pay nothing for Cabbin Stores. — That going that Cruise to oblige the government and the Merchants under circumstances which rendered it doubtful whether he was to continue in the Service, he stipulated with you, that the Cabbin Stores should be furnished him by the public — It seems the Crew of the Ganges were promised higher pay than was allowed by the existing regulations — and it is said that the Merchants of Philadelphia were to pay the difference — Mess^rs Willing and Francis charge in their account against that Ship the whole Sum paid the Crew — 20 Dollars, for example, to a Seaman the regulations allow but 17 — Will you be so good as to give me your recollection of the agreement with Cap^t Dale as to Cabbin Stores — and your opinion from your recollection of the circumstances of the case, whether the charge of Willing & Francis should be admitted to the extent they make it. — or whether they should only have Credit for the Pay according to the Navy Regulations — I will just observe that it seems hard that the Merchants should be obliged to pay any part of the expense of the Crew of a Public Ship. — I have the honor to be