and his memory does not serve him so as to be certain on this point. I have therefore to request that you will forward to this Office a [undecipherable] to supply the defects above mentioned by stating the [undecipherable] to which you have [found?] him. In stating his account he informs me that he has been in the habit of double rations while on command on [undecipherable] which I have [found?] [undecipherable] to ascertain upon his several [acts?] [undecipherable] shall be [established?] to persons in the allowance of double rations to Officers in his situation, to enable me to make this adjustment. I have to request that you will forward to this [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the double rations drawn by [undecipherable] [undecipherable] within the State of [undecipherable] either from the Contractor or from you as they may [undecipherable] Sam [undecipherable] [ML] Cap^t Josias Thomas [undecipherable] Ferry, near [undecipherable] Virginia Accountants Office February [27]^th 1798 Sir I find on examination of the Contractors accounts that you have drawn rations as [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to bring at the rate of [undecipherable] per day from the 21 May to the 23 Nov 1797. By the law you are allowed no additional rations as [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] ration [undecipherable] has been [undecipherable] for his own [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] per [undecipherable] which [sum?] will be [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] master [undecipherable] on settlement of your next account. I received informing you by letter that [undecipherable] [undecipherable] bring even [undecipherable] from rations [undecipherable] but it is [undecipherable] that by the [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] remarks [undecipherable] the information was [undecipherable] as by that act no additional Rations are allowed to Officers acting in [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. Sam [undecipherable] [ML]