[Docket notation, written sideways:] Letter to the Sec^y of War dated Feb^y 5. 1800 in answer from [undecipherable] of 24^th Jan^y 1800 — Col[undecipherable] Sir Feb^y 5^th 1800, I have received your letter of 24^th Jan^y informing me that Brigadier Gen^l M^cPherson has represented to you That his pay, [strikethrough: as Brigadier General] & emoluments for a Brigadier Brig[ade?] as 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 Guards or Guests at Taverns under the precautions as I am unacquainted with any case that only apply to the usonal in such cases, before I can undertake to decide on the amounts proper to be admitted [strikethrough: as sum] over and above the allowances fixed [strikethrough: to him] by Law I have deemed it necessary to put you in full posession of all the charges exhibited, as on his acct [strikethrough: which] will appear from copies of the Vouchers herewith, with the several [strikethrough: accounts against] the United States, [strikethrough: from] you may explicitly decide on the sums to be admitted. Viz^t [undecipherable: probable reading "Benjamin M[c]Morris"] acc^t Marke A for Wine Porter & Brandy &c^a — — Doll^s 95=46 Br^t over .. 95=48 Benjamin W Morris account Marked B for Wine Sugar Porter Brandy Crackers Segars &c^a — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 136=86 Thomas Passmores account Marked C for Stewpans Plates knives & Forks and sundry articles of tin ware Furniture — — — 69=9. Michael Gymbler Acc^t Marked D for sundry sums paid by him for Beef Tongues Hams Cheese, Crackers &c^a &c^a — — — — — — — — — — 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 Rodman's [strikethrough: the allowances Capt Rodman's troop was entitled to be reimbursed] troop of Ligh^t 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 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 & Muster Rolls on file in this Office 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 ha[s] 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^r day is 696 Rations at 15 ¹⁵/₁₀₀ p^r Ration would amount to 105 ³⁰/₁₀₀ Doll^s. The foregoing is all the information at present with in my knowledge of the charges exhibited on account of Gen^l M^cPherson. The Secr[etary] of War [interlinear: undecipherable circumstances] to state whether [undecipherable] will therefore please, explicitly, [strikethrough: to decide] [strikethrough: the extraordinary allowances should be made] on the [undecipherable] proper to be admitted[.]