330. Accountants Office September 26 1799 Major Dan^l Brodley d q^r Winchester V^a Sir The Secretary of War has handed to me your letter to him of the 10^th Instant informing that Cap^t Duvall with his Recruits has been ordered to Fort Cumberland in Maryland and as there was no person appointed to furnish rations at that place you had therefore agreed with M^r M^cMunn of y^r Winchester to furnish them at 16 &c^ts p^r ration, and request to be informed in what manner the contractor may obtain his pay. In answer thereto I have to observe that M^r James Baker of Baltimore is a Contractor for the state of Maryland to whom an extensive c^on with the Secretary of War on the 1 April 1798 which says "that the party of the second part M^r Baker shall "supply to place all rations that shall be required at him for "the use of the United States, at all & every place or places where "troops are or may be stationed marched or recruited within "the limits of the State of Maryland, two days notice being given "thereof of the post or place where rations may be wanted from "the date of this Contract until the 31^st day of December 1799" You will therefore observe that the mode adopted by you was improper, & that I cannot consider the person appointed by you as acting under a separate contract, or as the sum fixed by you, unless the same is sanctioned by the S^y of War & as the thing is now situated M^r M^cMunn can only be considered as an agent of M^r Bakers & of course his accounts when properly authenticated must be presented thro^o Baker for settlement & I am &^c W^m S