[undecipherable] [16. May 1799 / Cap. Joseph Elliott] War department May 16. 1799 Sir I have just received your letter informing me of the conditions upon which you will undertake to conduct and superintend the laboratory business. I can only give you what I have already communicated to you verbally [undecipherable] allow, on the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] pay[undecipherable] [undecipherable] allowance for conducting and [undecipherable] the progress [undecipherable] laboratory [undecipherable] by law for an Inspector of [undecipherable] — Thirty dollars per month in addition to your pay in the line and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] for your daily subsistence in addition to your rations in the line — and that I shall consider it my duty to represent to Congress that a higher compensation is proper and ought to be allowed. I do not conceive I can with propriety go [undecipherable] the rules having been as it were established to govern in such cases. I have [undecipherable] to the Quarter Master [undecipherable] to rent the necessary [undecipherable] for the [undecipherable] laboratory — [undecipherable] him that [undecipherable] him [undecipherable] giving on a [undecipherable] occasion [undecipherable] will therefore [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to give him the necessary information — I am Sir with respect Your obedient Servant James M[undecipherable] Joseph Elliott.