[letter to [undecipherable] No [undecipherable] Feby 5, 1800 in answer [undecipherable] from Gen[era]l McPherson 24 Jan[uary] 1800 Col. [undecipherable]] Sir Feb[ruar]y 5^th 1800, I have received your letter of 24^th Jan[uar]y informing me that Brigadier Gen[era]l McPherson has represented to you That his pay, [strikethrough: of a Brigadier General] & emoluments as [strikethrough: Brigadier General] fixed by Law, was insufficient to his outfit and other expences incurred by himself & family while on the Northampton Expedition, and authorizing me to admit to the debit of the United States the extraordinary expences he has incurred for himself and family, [for?] [undecipherable] Guard, or Guests at Taverns under the precautions as I am unacquainted with any case that [only apply?] [undecipherable] usual in such cases, [before/therefore] I can undertake to decide on the amount proper to be admitted [strikethrough] over and above the allowances fixed [strikethrough: to him] by Law I have deemed it necessary to put you in full possesion of all the charges exhibited, as on his acct. [strikethrough: that] will appear from copies of the Vouchers herewith, with the several [undecipherable] claims against the United States, [strikethrough: from you] may explicitly decide on the sums to be admitted. Vizt. [undecipherable] Benjamin W Morris Acct Mark'd A for Wine Porter & Brandy &c — — Doll[ar]s 95=46 Bro[ugh]t. over . . 95=48 Benjamin W Morris account Marked B for Wine Sugar Porter Brandy Crackers Segars &c — — — — — — — — 136=86 Thomas Passmores account Marked C for Stewpans Plates Knives & Forks and sundry articles of tin ware [Furniture?] — — 69=9. Michael Gumbles Acct. Marked D for sundry sums paid by him for Beef Tongues Hams Cheese Crackers &c &c — — — — — — 143=29 Jonathan Williams Aid de Camp acct Marked E for sundry sums paid by him for Tavern Expences of a Detachment of Cap[tai]n William Rodmans troop of Ligh[t] Dragons [strikethrough: The allowances left Rodmans Troop was entitled to be reimbursed] ( ) 140=55 Ditto — D[itt]o for sundry Tavern Expences of General McPherson and family — — — — — — — — — 227=78
                                                                                                                                          368=33 Dollars. — 813=86 In addition [strikethrough: to the] above General McPherson & his Aid De Camp Jonathan Williams have received, their pay & Forage Money allowed to them by Law from 17^th March to 7^th May 1799 as appears by the Pay, Muster Rolls on file in this Office they have also received Forage in kind from the Quarter Master as will appear by account Marked F — It does not appear that Gen[era]l McPherson has received any Rations of Provisions from the Contractor, the Rations he was entitled to from 17^th March to 7^th May 1799 being 58 days at 12 Rations p[er] day is 696 Rations at 15¹⁰/100 p[er] Ration would amount to 105 ³⁰/100 Doll[ar]s. The foregoing is all the information at present within my knowledge of the charges exhibited on account of Gen[era]l McPherson, The Secretary of War will therefore please, explicitly, to decide [strikethrough: undecipherable] [undecipherable] circumstances to state whether prudence [undecipherable] [strikethrough: that] extraordinary allowances should be made on the [undecipherable] proper to be [undecipherable] The United States D[ebto]r To Michael Gunkle 1799. By General Mc Pherson — April 3: To Sundries as p[er] bill of Israel & Matlack . . 6..1..8 " Jacob Hisingers Bill of Sundries . . 6..8..5 " Miss Goodmans d[itt]o — d[itt]o —— 10..0..4½ [strikethrough: Elieneth Dawsons d[itt]o 1..12..6] " Coopering & Porterage &c " 3..9 " Charles Heins — . 5..8.3 " Lydia Oggden — . 1.15.— " Henry Schner — . 21..4.8½ £ 53.14.8 $ 143..29 I do hereby certify that the above articles were purchased by my order for the use of my family on the expedition to Northampton. — (Signed) W. MacPherson B. Gen[era]l. [addressed to: Simmons Esq[ui]re / Accountant General / War Department / Philadelphia] Sir Perth amboy Jan. 21. 1800 In conformity to my last, I had the honour of applying by Letter, & afterwards personally to the Secretary at War for his authority to write off the charge of four hundred dollars, which stands against my name in your Books. Represented to him, that I had no appointment which implied a pecuniary responsibility out of the Line of military command. — I was ordered by Gen[era]l Macpherson to give a Receipt to Cap[tai]n Vance paymaster to the late Expedition for $400, and to make therewith certain payments. This order/as was my duty/ I obeyed & at my return exhibited the accounts & Vouchers to the commander of the Expedition, who by implication approved of the same, & received from me the trifling surplus of about thirty one dollars. — Here ended, in my apprehension, my duty and my responsibility; and the Secretary at War will doubtless inform you that I am to receive Credit in your Books by transferring the charge to some other acct. I beg you Sir to lay this Letter before the Secretary at War, and to favour me with an answer by which I may have the satisfaction of knowing that this Business is properly terminated — With much Esteem — I have the honour to be Sir Your ob[edien]t Servant Jon Williams