[Docket, text written sideways:] Copy of a letter from [William?] [Simmons?] [Accountant?] [undecipherable] the [Accountant?] War [Dept?] [the?] State of [Pennsylvania?] [the?] Comptroller [General?] of the Comptroller [General?] of [undecipherable] dated [20?]: [January?] 1800 [Order?] [By?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 1800 Copy of a letter from William Simmons, Accountant of the War Department to John Donnaldson Esq^re Comptroller General of the State of Pennsylvania — Lancaster, dated Accountants Office, January 20^th 1800. Sir, I have received your letter dated the 18^th Instant, stating that in the Accounts of A. J. Dallas, Paymaster General to the Militia of Pennsylvania employed in 1794, there is a charge of a Commission of 5 per Cent on monies disbursed by him; and requesting to be informed what is the usual compensation made by the United States for similar Services, and what was allowed to the Pay Masters of the Militia of the States of Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey, on the said Expedition. In reply to which I have to inform you that in all cases where Services have been rendered to the United States, and the compensation not fixed by law, the Sec.^y of War after being possessed of the necessary information as to the nature of the accounts and extent of the Services rendered decides on the quantum of compensation to be allowed. What allowance therefore will be made to M^r Dallas, cannot now be ascertained or fixed as the nature and extent of the Services to be rendered cannot be known until he settles his accounts upon the principles already pointed out to him. The allowances which have been made to the Pay Masters who have settled their accounts will not be considered to govern in the case of M^r Dallas unless the Services are of a similar nature and an equal extent. Those Officers have attended to and settled the accounts of each person who received public monies from them — received and examined the receipts and accounts of each Officer, & Soldier, stated Accounts Current and refunded any Balances remaining unapplied, to the United States, thereby increasing the duties in a great degree and making them of a laborious and responsible nature. I am &^c W.S.