[Docket wrapper page] [War Department August 25. 1799] [Acknowledging the [undecipherable] place [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] concerning [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] M[undecipherable] [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Gil. [undecipherable]] [Rec. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Aug[ust] [179]9] War Department 25 August 1799 Sir It is stated to me, by Captain Samuel C Vance, that his accounts, as Deputy Pay Master, to the Volunteers & militia employed on the Northampton expedition, were settled by the Pay master General and his pay, allowed, up to the 2[4]^th July, ultimo, and that when the accounts came before you, you deducted from the amount of pay, by allowing it, only up to the 8^th May. The appointment of Captain Vance, as well as the duration of his Office, were wholly beyond your competency. He was appointed by a special authority, adequate to the purpose, and was to be considered in Office, until his appointment was revoked, or his business and accounts were completed. You should have applied to the authority that appointed Captain Vance, for information, from, and to, what date, he was to be allowed pay, if doubts had existed on the subject. The muster and pay rolls of the troops, or of the field and Staff, employed on the expedition, are by no means conclusive as to the time he was, or was not, to be considered in service and entitled to pay. The duties of a paymaster cannot in the nature of things, terminate with the dismission of the troops from service, to pay whom he was appointed. — The payments must not only be concluded but his accounts settled, before either the duty or responsibility ceases. In this view Captain Vance has an equitable claim, to compensation, to cover his expences, while waiting the settlement of his accounts as paymaster, since the period to which he has actually charged his pay. The The Quarter Master General who has audited the accounts of the same officer as his Deputy, on the same expedition, has thought it right, to allow him pay up to the 20^th July ultimo, altho the troops were dismissed, by General M^cPherson before that period — upon the ground as it appears to me, that he was to be considered, [underline: essentially] employed, in the business of his agency, until he rendered his accounts, having used due diligence so to do. It appears from Captain Vance's letters to the Paymaster General, who waited for him, at Pittsburg some weeks, that he was engaged in arranging and settling accounts with individuals, and preparing his own accounts for final settlement in the offices in question, and from this cause alone detained in Philadelphia, from going forward to enter on the duties of Deputy Paymaster to the Western Army. It appears from his statement, and your letter to him of the 1[9] instant that he rendered his accounts at your office, on the 1[3] July, in order that their examination might commence altho he expected some vouchers, which had not then been forwarded — It is also represented that you turned over his accounts to the Pay Master General on the 3[1] July, with instructions to examine them, and report the balance — giving notice to Captain Vance on the same day, to make any explanation [underline: that might] be required to the Paymaster General — that in the course of the examination, an explanation was required why the charge for pay was partial, only to the 7 inclusive of May, and at a fixed rate — 30 Dollars per month — to which Captain Vance replied, that he had made a partial charge and at the Rate of 30 Dollars per month, merely to have the quantum of compensation settled — and knowing it would be easy when the the quantum was determined, to apply it to the whole time, for which he considered himself entitled to pay — That the Pay master General advised, that the charge only to the 7 May inclusive should be erased, and the Secretary of War applied to, to determine the quantum of compensation, after which it [strikethrough: ould] be charged in the General Account current, for the whole time, it should be allowed. My answer to this application was given the 7 instant, and it appears — that Captain Vance extended his demand, at the rate I have determined, to the 25 July — limiting it by the day, on which he received his appointment as Deputy Pay master to the Western Army. From the preceding considerations and statements — I must think Captain Vance has used every exertion to forward a settlement of his accounts, and done nothing to preclude him from a full allowance of his demands which I think just and fair — You will therefore in your settlement with him allow him, at the rate of 30 dollars, per month, for his compensation, as Deputy Pay Master, to the troops mentioned, on the Northampton Expedition, from the 1 day of April, to the 24 day of July ultimo inclusive. I am Sir Your Obedient Servant James McHenry William Simmons Esq^r. Accountant of the War Department