936 James Miller Esq^r Accountant's Office October 3^d 1799 Sir I have received your letters dated the 1^st Inst. the one accompanying the accounts of disbursements in the Quarter Master Department; on the Northampton expedition the other those for disbursements made by you as Agent of John Wilkins Jun^r D. Q. M. — On looking over these accounts I find irregularities which have determined me to returned them that the following defects may be remedied — viz 1^st They are not accompanied by an Abstract of the Whole purchases; for which the Quarter master General is to be charged & held accountable. 2^d The account contains charges which are unauthorized both by law & former precedent.— 3^d The Charges are not arranged under the different items of expenditures proper to their examination here; for instance the purchase Money of the lot for building a Laboratory, & all expenses incident to that Establishment must be kept Separate, & distinct from all other accounts, & so with the purchases for which the Q.M.G is accountable, Transportation furniture, forage, postage Hospital, &c these separate & Distinct abstracts must be furnished. When the accounts are properly Stated pursuant as above directed, they should in the first instance be rendered to the Quarter Master General, & by him examined & transmitted to this Office, as part of & connected with his General account as Quarter master General. I am &^c W. S.