[Administrative docket notation on cover:] [letter to [undecipherable] No. of [undecipherable] War late [undecipherable] &c. 5 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] 24 Jan^y [undecipherable] Colo. [undecipherable]] Sir Feb^y 5^th 1800, I have received your letter of 24^th Jan^y informing [me] that Brigadin Gen^l M^cPherson has represented to you That his pay [strikethrough: for a Brigadier General] & emoluments as [for a Brigadier Bengrae] fixed by Law, was insufficient to his outfit and other expences incurred by himself & family while on the Northampton Expedition and authorizing me to admit to the debit of the United States the extraordinary expences he has incurred for himself and family, [for] Guard, or Guests at Taverns under the precautions as I am unacquainted with any case that only apply [thereunto] usual in such cases, I therefore I can undertake to decide on the amounts proper to be admitted [strikethrough: and] over and above the allowances fixed [strikethrough: to him] by Law I have deemed it necessary to put you in full [on his acct] possession of all the charges exhibited, as [it will appear from copies of the Vouchers herewith, with the] [strikethrough: several] claims against the United States, [strikethrough: from you] may explicitly decide on the sums to be admitted. Hereto. Benjamin W Morris Acc.^t Marke A for Wine Porter & Brandy &^c — — Doll.^s 95=46 Brt. over . . 95=48 Benjamin W Morris account Marked B for Wine Sugar Porter Brandy Crackers Segars &^c. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 136=86. Thomas Passmores account Marked C for Stewpans Plates knives & Forks and sundry articles of tin ware Furniture — — — 69=9. Michael Gumbles Acc.^t Marked D for sundry sums paid by him for Beef Tongues Hams Cheese Crackers &^c &^c. — — — — — — — 143=29 Jonathan Williams Aid de Camp Acc.^t Marked E for sundry sums paid by him for Tavern Expences of a Detachment of Cap.^t William Rodmans [strikethrough: The allowances to Rodmans troop was entitled to be reimbursed] troop of Light Dragoons (——) 140=55 Ditto — D.^o for sundry Tavern Expences of General M^cPherson and family — — — — — — — — — — 227=78 368=33 Dollars. —813=86 In addition [strikethrough: to the] above General M^cPherson & his Aid De Camp Jonathan Williams have received, their pay & Forage Money allowed to them by law from 11^th March to 7^th May 1799 as appears by the Pay Rolls on file in this office & Muster they have also received Forage in kind from the Quarter Master as will appear by account Marke F. — It does not appear that Gen.^l M^cPherson has received any Rations of Provisions from the Contractor, the Rations he was entitled to from 11^th March to 7^th May 1799 being 58 days at 12 Rations p day is 696 Rations at 15 5/10 ¢ p Ration would amount to 105 ³⁰/100 Doll.^s The foregoing is all the information at present within my knowledge of the charges exhibited on account of Gen.^l M^cPherson, The Secretary of War [undecipherable: circumstances] will therefore please [strikethrough: explicitly] to state whether [undecipherable] & [strikethrough: the extraordinary allowances should be made] on the [strikethrough: sums] proper to be admitted. The United States D^r To Michael Gunkle By General M^cPherson — 1799. April 3. To Sundries as p Bill of Israel & Matlack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6..1..8 " Jacob Hisingers Bill of Sundries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6..8..5 " Miss Goodmans d. — d. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 10..0..4½ [strikethrough: Elizabeth Dawsons d. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 0..12..0] " Coopering & [Porterage?]. [Bordeage?] — — — — — — — — — — — — " 3..9 " Charles Heins — . — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 5..8..3 " Lydia Oggden — . — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1.15.. " Henry Schver — . — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 21..4..8½ £ 53..14..8 $ 143..29 I do hereby certify that the above articles were purchased by my order for the use of my family on the expedition to Northampton. — (Signed) W MacPherson B. Gen.^l [Address on cover:] [#] Simmons Esq.^r Accountant General War Department Philadelphia Perth Amboy Jan. 21. 1800 Sir In conformity to my last, I had the honour of applying by Letter, & afterwards personally to the Secretary at War for his authority to write off the Charge of four hundred dollars, which stands against my name in your Books. I represented to him, that I had no appointment which implied a pecuniary responsibility out of the line of military command. — I was ordered by Gen.^l Macpherson to give a Receipt to Cap.^t Vance paymaster to the late Expedition for $400, and to make therewith certain payments. This order/as was my duty/I obeyed & at my return exhibited the accounts & Vouchers to the commander of the Expedition, who by implication approved of the same, & received from me the trifling surplus of about thirty one dollars. — Here ended, in my apprehension, my duty and my responsibility; and the Secretary at War will doubtless inform you that I am to receive Credit in your Books by transfering the charge to some other Acct. I beg you for to lay this Letter before the Secretary at War, and to favour me with an answer by which I may have the Satisfaction of knowing that this Business is properly terminated With much Esteem I have the honour to be Sir Your ob^d.t Servant Jon Williams