Lieut^t Nanning J. Fischer November 12 1799 Niagara Sir The Secretary of War having directed you to draw on him for the payment of sundry claims in the Quarter Masters Department as set forth in his letter to you of the 24 Ult^o. it has become my duty to furnish you with the necessary Instructions & directions in making the payments, and as to the mode of keeping & rendering the acc^ts for the expenditure of the money. It may be necessary to recapitulate the items of which the amount is composed more particularly then is stated in the letter of the Secretary of War. I therefore inclose you copies of the Abstracts as arranged in this Office shewing the sums due each individual. You will observe by the Abstract N^o 1, amounting to D^rs 520 ⁴⁰/100, that Doctor Coffin issued Certificates or due Bills to the Soldiers who performed the services, & it appears by his representation that they were disposed of to sundry Merchants in the vicinity of Niagara. Those due Bills you are to take up & annex the receipts of the holders thereto, on paying the money which will be considered as indispensible, vouchers for your payments — Abstract N^o 2 is for services performed for which no certificates have been granted. Should the Soldiers, all or any of them be present, or should they have alienated the amount by proper transfers to persons who shall present them to you for payment, you will pay the amount on proper authenticated documents, & take the receipts accordingly. Abstract N^o 3 is for amount of articles purchased by Doctor Coffin while acting Quarter Master at Niagara from sundry Merchants, & others amounting to D^rs 397 ⁸⁰/100. In making the payments for this Abstract you will be particular in taking the proper receipts from the parties as therein set forth. After you shall have completed the payments a General Statement is to be formed, shewing the amount received, & expended on each Abstract, & if any balance remains unapplied, to note the same accordingly. which