to approve or disapprove of the modes you have taken for the payment of the troops by receiving drafts to be drawn therefor as regulations of this nature have always been made by or under the direction of the Secretary of War. Sam H^o H^l Edward Carrington Esq^r Accountants Office [undecipherable] December [undecipherable] 1799 Richmond V^a Sir I duly received your letter dated the [undecipherable] enclosing the acct therein mentioned which I immediately handed to the Secretary of War for the purpose of having them checked by [undecipherable] of this State that being the necessary [undecipherable] accounts of this nature present. The examination by them has been made & the usual certificates have been annexed by which you will be governed in drawing payment [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. I accordingly return you the accts for that purpose. Sam H^o H^l M^r William [undecipherable] Cap^t December [undecipherable] 1799 [undecipherable] of R[undecipherable] Alexandria [undecipherable] Sir I have received your letter dated the [undecipherable] in reply for which I have to inform you that any regulations in allowances not correctly provided for by law must be [undecipherable] sanctioned by the Secretary of War, I have therefore not complied to give you the [undecipherable] you have put as applications must be made [undecipherable] as have mentioned [undecipherable] to any allowance for hire of servant. Sam H^o