The Secretary of War Accountants' Office Sir June 29^t 1799 In the accounts of John Mackey Pay master to the Armoury at Harpers Ferry, exhibited for settlement at this Office, are the following charges which are submitted for your decision. 1798 Sept 3.^d To carriage hire from Philadelphia to Trenton & back, being sent thither by the Intendant of military Store to treat with the Sec.^y of War concerning the appointm.^t of a Paym.^r &c.^t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.^r 4. 25 13 To carriage hire from Philad.^a to Harpers Ferry being sent thither by the Secretary of War.. 9.50 To travelling expences on both occasions 8d.^t 4/3.12.— ——— 25.75 To his expences & those of the Public horse twice at Shepherdstown & once at Charlestown, in Oct.^r & Nov.^r to ascertain the rules of measurement at Saw mills, to change bank notes & to purchase sundary articles for the use of the Factory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.78 Dec.^r 15, To his travelling expences & of the Public horse to Georgetown to receive the goods consigned by Jo.ⁿ Harris, from thence to Baltimore, to purchase articles for the use of the Armoury . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.77 24.^t To his travelling expences and of the Public horse to Cumberland in Alleghany, to contract for a Supply of Stone Coal, absent 6 Days . . . . . . . . . 11.63 1799 Jan^y 6.^t To his d.^o to Hagerstown 2 days, the object of this journey was to ascertain the quality of Iron at the Forges near that place . . . . . . . . . . 4.31 Feb.^y 18.^t To his d.^o from Harpers Ferry to Philad.^a (the object of this journey was to procure money for the pressing 66.24 Continued D.^r 66. [undecipherable] exegencies of the factory & to treat fully with the Sec.^y of War, on the plans for business at this place) 4 days, at Philadelphia 7 days, from Ph.^a to Harpers Ferry, via Wilmington 5½ d.^s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.^r 21.25. Carriage hire from Fredericitown to Philad.^a . . . . 8.50. Keeping of the Public horse from Philad.^a to Harpers Ferry 5½ days @ 8/ p day) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.86¾ 1798 ——— 35.6[undecipherable] Mars. To his travelling expences to procure a Brickmaker & make Contracts for the supply of Scantling . . . . . . . . . — 7[undecipherable] Dollars, 102. 6[undecipherable] As it is probable that more accounts of a like nature will be exhibited at this Office for settlement, the Secretary of War is requested to decide generally, whether allowances shall be made to the Pay master or Superintendant of the Armoury, in addition to their established compensation, for expences incurred by them respectively, in going to, & from places, distant from the Armoury on business relative to their appointments.— Annexed is Copy of the remarks subjoined by Mr. Mackey to his account of the charges abovementioned, Sam 8.^o W. S. P.S. I have no informations of the allowance of 1½ Doll.^s p day for extra Expences mentioned by Mr. Mackey (in addition to his pay & Rations which are fixed by his Instructions from the Secretary of War,) in the Annexed remarks — It is to be remarked that though the Secretary of War allows one & a half Dollars p day for my expences when from home on public Business, that it never shall be required when not necessary, but that my reasonable expences when unavoidable will be looked for as a matter of right. I am, neither addicted