Extract of a letter from Major Rivardi dated Niagara April 28^th 1799. "I received this moment a letter from the first Clerks of the Accountants [here with this paragraph]. The statement forwarded by you for the pay of the Soldiers employed in the Quarter Masters Department is inadmissible; there is no law authorizing a Soldier to receive extra pay. "I had the direction of the Soldiers employed in the Quarter Masters department at Detroit, signed their Certificates on which they were always paid five dollars extra per month. My predecessor in this Post issued an order dated June 97, which has these words: "The Quarter Master will settle with Hay and Wood Cutters, who are to receive a compensation to make their Pay equal to the Artificers." "Finally — a letter from the Sec^y of War dated August 1^st 98 has this passage: "With respect to the money due the Soldiers for Extra Duty, it will be forwarded as soon as some general Regulations shall be made which will apply to the whole Army." "Resting on such precedents and encouragements, it is a matter of no small astonishment to me to see my expectations overturned by the stroke of a pen. — "The Men employed in the Quarter Masters Department have been nearly all discharged from Service and paid for their extra duty, by orders of the Quarter Masters, which have been bought by English Merchants who look to Doctor Coffin for the taking up of these orders. — Indeed it would be an unprecedented Act to make him buy so dearly the pleasure of serving the public for nothing."