[1800 Jany 28 — Genl. Pickering Comp. to Clerks] Philadelphia Jan^y 28. 1800 Dear Sir, In answer to your enquiry relative to the Salary of my chief clerk, I inform you, that his fixed allowance is fifteen hundred dollars a year. But he is also (as was his predecessor) translator of the French & Spanish languages, for which he receives a compensation of three hundred and fifty dollars a year — doing this business out of office hours. — His capacity, diligence & fidelity well entitle him to these rewards. I am very respectfully D^r Sir Your obt Serv^t T. Pickering James McHenry Esq^r Secretary of War