War Department, July 1^st 1799 Sir, I have received your letter of the 2^d instant informing me, that M^r Elisha P. Hall, has exhibited an account to your Office, of monies due him for Pay and Expences, whilst acting as Secretary to the commissioners appointed to hold a Treaty with the Chero-kee Nation of Indians, and enclosing an Abstract of the Account with an explanatory letter from M^r Hall. In answer, I observe, that M^r Hall should furnish you with satisfactory documents, to shew his appointment by the commissioners, — date, and continuance. He should also exhibit proof of the compensation, agreed to be allowed him by the commissioners, which you will admit, if it does not exceed four Dollars per diem. — As M^r Hall was probably appointed at Knoxville, where the commissioners found him, and he [undecipherable] for his time, or expences in proceeding to that place, he must be supposed to have been there upon his private business. Of course it will be right to stop his per diem compensation after the Commission ended, upon the principle that as the public business did not carry him there, so the public ought not to pay for his return, but may justly leave him at the place where he was when called into employ. It is however stated that M^r Hall was charged with bearing Despatches to the Government, after the Commission was closed, which is a fact: and if M^r Hall can establish satisfactorily that he must not necessarily have made the same Journey if the Despatches had not been confided to him, or that they alone occasioned it, he ought to be settled with on the principle of an an allowance of reasonable expences on his return. At such times as Stores were not provided or a table kept for the Commission, as has always been usual, I incline to believe three Dollars per diem a proper charge for Subsistence, particularly if the Commissioners charged this Sum themselves, and justified by the law for holding the Treaty — it must be supposed M^r Hall lodged with them, and at the same rate of Expence. M^r Hall was required by the Commissioners at the adjournment of the Treaty, to proceed with Dispatches from them to the Secretary of War; and returned with Dispatches from the Secretary to the Commissioners during the time he was engaged in this Service — he is to be allowed his reasonable Expences, in addition to his per diem compensation, the Commission still existing — and on these Journies, as well as on his return from the Commission, the usual established principles of the Office will govern, with reference to the charge of [undecipherable] for every thirty Miles as a days Travel. M^r Hall should also be allowed his reasonable expences during his necessary delay at any place, waiting for the Dispatches, he was expected to charge himself with; and for the sums he actually paid for certain horse furniture, necessary to the extra Service he performed as Messenger to the Commission, upon his producing receipts for the return of the same to the public store. I enclose the explanatory letter from M^r Hall to you, and your Abstract of his account. I am Sir, Your Hble Servant, James McHenry William Simmons Esq^r Acc^t Dep^t of War