[473] Cheops Sterns Esq^r W.D. New York Accountants Office January 29, 1800— Sir I have recd from the Secretary of War and submit your letter to him, dated the 2^d Inst: accompanied by the account of Abr: & Dennis Watson for clothing, purchased by you for the Troops, agreeable to instructions from the Secretary of War &c. the Secretary has also furnished me with a copy of his instructions to you dated 10 July 1799, by which you are authorized to transmit a deficiency of the proper kind of Cloth to make as many suits for the Artillery Troops at New York Barrack, for the State as well as the prisoners of Major Gen^l Hamilton to be wanted for the occasion. Before therefore I set off the account, I must hold friendship with the accounts directions from Major Gen^l Hamilton by which you were to be guided in this case. Sam H. W.L. Major Hunt McPherson January 24^th 1800 Sir My letter recd from the Secretary, a copy of which I am referred, has been furnished to you from his Office: I am advised, that the commissary, appears [undecipherable] generally [undecipherable] Stores or [undecipherable] at Invoice, on the late expenditures to Northampton, to [undecipherable] little proper account unless the precautions usual of such rank. I have accordingly to request that you will [undecipherable] met with a Statement of the particular items, and amount of your charge on that Expenditure agreeable to the abovementioned letter, in order that I may be enable to give it the necessary examination. Sam H. W.L.