[Administrative endorsement:] Aug. 7. 1799. J. Bruff Cap^t a^t Exp^s on account 400. Dollars Warr^t N^o 2 S. [No.] Philadelphia [undecipherable], 1799 — In obedience to the orders of General Hamilton, I am now on my way to Niagara with two necessary Witnesses [a Serjeant & Artificer — I la[undecipherable]] before a court of inquiry, charges exhibited against him last Winter— To enable me to proceed; it will be [undecipherable: probable reading 'necessary'] to advance a Sum of money to defray the expenses of [undecipherable] and Subsistence for which I may be held accountable — an estimate of what this advance ought to be, I have taken the liberty to state as follows — Stage hire for Self & two Soldiers from Baltimore to Niagara — say, 700 miles @ 18 Cents ⅌ mile & return the same — is — . . . — — 252. — Accommodations on the way Say 50 Miles ⅌ day is 14 days at 450 Cents ⅌ day & Return the same — is — . . . — — — — 126. — $ 378. — And for Unforseen accidents & delays 22. — $ 400 — for the due application of which I hope to produce proper Vouchers, and have the honor to be — Yr obed^t Serv^t (Signed) [signature: Bruff] An extract from General Hamilton's letter ordering me with my [undecipherable] to Niagara on my charges against Major [undecipherable] — letter — 'I have lately written to You directing you to repair to [Niagara] on the affair of your charges against M[undecipherable] [undecipherable]" You have been also told that [indispensable] Witnesses may be taken on at the expense of the Public — but this can only respect charges which have been regularly exhibit-ed, not those which may to hereafter be contem-plated as you intimate the existence of such; I conceive it to be my duty to call for a Specification' (Signed) Alexander Hamilton — The Secretary of War has assured me upon a representation of my instructions from General Hamilton, & quoting that part of his letter that directs my going to Niagara; an advance on account may be made by the Pay Master General. (Signed) [signature: Bruff] [undecipherable] Esq^r Received of C [undecipherable] this 7^th day of August 1799 [the] sum of four hundred Dollars on account for which I am accountable to the Accountant of the department of war or to the [undecipherable] C [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Signed J. Bruff 400. $