Parrish & Murdock November 14^th 1799 Brooklyn Conn^t Gentlemen Your accounts & Vouchers for rations, Quarter master & Hospital Stores furnished Captⁿ Copeland his Lieut^t & Recruits at Brooklyn between 23^d May & 31 October 1799, have been exam. & underwent the following alterations viz: Amount of your acc^t & your own statement ........ 728.85 From which has been deducted — This sum paid Captⁿ Copeland & Lieut^t Cheney in lieu of Fuel it being decided by the Secretary of War that "the Regulations for distributing fuel are merely directory as to the quantity that may be allowed, & was not intended to give an emolument to an Officer for any part they have not drawn by being on furlough or detached on service, on any other cause" — which vouchers are now returned ........... 16.46 This sum charged as so much paid for transportation, there being no rec^t to shew that the money was paid — Artificers &c — ————————— 75.— This sum charged for 1 Gall. Spirits furnished for the sick & their nurses, — there being neither order or certificate .. 1.34 This sum overcharged in his Commissions .......... 6.83. Leaving six hundred twenty nine dollars & 22/100 for which you will receive a credit on the Books of this Office, to be set against the sum of Six hundred & fifty dollars advanced you on account — of course a balance remains in your hands of twenty dollars & 75/100, for which you are held accountable — Some of the vouchers that have now been admitted are defective, wanting the receipts of the Physicians who attended the sick, — this must in future be remedied by making it a universal rule in all cases where a requisition is made upon you, to furnish Quarter Master or Hospital Stores, that you produce the bills & receipts of the parties from whom you made the purchases together with the certificate of the Commanding Officer of their delivery, & if the articles are furnished from your own store, proof will then be required that they are not charged above the market price. Upon reference to your contract you will find that you are entitled to commission on Quarter Master & Hospital Stores only, it not being properly the business of a contractor to advance officers, money in lieu of their subsistence — Enclosed is an abstract of the charges admitted to your credit & in drawing out & rendering your future accounts, I wish you to observe the same forms — Sam &c. H. S.