Capt Josias Hornsby Accountants Office Harpers Ferry near Shepherdstown February 27^th 1798— Virginia Sir I find on examination of the Contractors acco^t that you have drawn rations as Staff at the rate of [undecipherable] p day from the 28 May to the 28 Nov 1797. By the law you are allowed no additional rations as [undecipherable] to draw, consequently each ration p day has been [undecipherable: overstated] for [undecipherable] provides [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] which sums will be [undecipherable: debited] by this pay master [undecipherable] on settlement of your next account. I recollect informing you by letter that [undecipherable] keep [undecipherable] rations [undecipherable] but it is [undecipherable: necessary] that by the laws of the US [undecipherable] the information was conveyed as by that act no additional Rations are allowed to Officers acting in that Department. Sam H: [undecipherable: initials]