The Secretary of War Accountants' Office Sir July 26^th 1799 I refer you to my letter of the 6 Instant on the subject of Contractors accounts to which I have received no answer - since then others of Mr. Colfax have been under examination, and in which there are a number of exceptionable vouchers - among those are some for Officers allowances of Wood, which appear to me not only very extravagant but contrary to the intent and meaning of the Regulations for allowances of Fuel & Straw. - The most material of them are two returns signed by Lieut^t. Coll^o. Smith of the 12 Reg^t. for the fuel of the Officers of said Regiment, from 10^th January the date of their several acceptances to the 10 June 1799 - 120 cord @ 11 dollars per cord ............. Doll^s 1320.- Contractors Commission of 2½ @ 6[undecipherable] ......... 34- Do 1354- It appears to me that the allowances granted by the above mentioned Regulations were intended to Officers only when they should be in need of the actual receipt of the quantity of Wood for consumption, and not to defer drawing their Wood for several months, and then make out a Return & receive the amount in money from the Contractor at the most advanced price as has been the case in the abovemention[ed] Accounts, - Should it be admitted that Officers of a Regiment are collectively entitled to receive the price of their wood from the Contractors at the rate of that article in a principle Town such as New York and at any time they may think proper. it will most assuredly opperate to the prejudice of the United States in several instances - 1^st many of the Officers are in course stationed at Recruiting Rendezvous and Posts where fuel is plenty and can be obtained at a very reduced price comparative with that charged above - 2^nd They will suspend drawing their fuel until the Winter or such time when the price is most advanced, and receive the Winter price for wood which became due during the Summer, - It will also should the principle be admitted bring forward claims from most of the Officers in the Army for arrearages of Wood from their dates of acceptance, as few have been in the habit of either receiving Wood or money in lieu thereof, except at some of the Garrisons on the Sea boards. - under the impression that it could not have been the meaning of these regulations that the allowance of Wood was to be considered as a perquisites to the Officers but that it was only to be drawn when actual necessity caused the consumption, - I have suspended the accounts of the Contractor until a decision is had on the Subject. I accordingly inclose copies of the accounts referred to and request that the Secretary of War will take the subject into consideration & furnish me with the result to govern in the settlement of Contractors acct^s. He will also be pleased to decide whether those issues do not come within the meaning of the 3^d Article in that part of