The deductions in the foregoing of money Paid to Officers in lieu or their Fuell is done agreeably to the decision of the Secretary of [undecipherable]— which says: the regulations for distributing Fuell are merely directory as to the quantity that may be allowed when absolutely necessary & cannot be construed & was not intended to give an Emolument to Officers for any part they have not drawn by being on Furloughs or detached on service, or any other cause? Timothy Darling major 16 Reg^t. Providence. R. I. Accountants Office March 4^th 1800 Sir Among the accounts of the Contractor John L Boss are exhibited the accounts of W^m Greene &c. and of Oliver Bowen, apparently the said Contractors agents at Granwich & Providence in which I observe many charges in the Quarter master & Hospital Departments of an extraordinary nature some of which will be deducted but cannot now tell how far they may be deemed inadmissible for want of all the original returns which you acknowledge to hold in your possession & which you will therefore please forwards me — By the General provision returns which you have certified it appears several of the Officers as well as yourself have drawn (thro' mistake) for servants which apparently you has not, or if you had, they were not duly enlisted men, (for none others can draw) I have therefore to request, should that not be the case, that you will certify to me that you have never while in service affixed your signature to any returns in which were included Rations for servants, other than duly enlisted men; — & that the said servants, have never drawn their subsistence in money or in kind for the time then drawn for, in order that the returns now before me, and granted by you, may have the proper amount passed to the credit of the Contractor, — Should I be correct in my premises you will please inform me whether all the Officers have committed this mistake or if not all, what part & who they are — with any other communications relative thereto which you may be pleased to make — Sam &c. H. S. Lieut^t Coll^e Rufus Graves Accountants Office 16 Reg^t of Infantry. March 4^th 1800 Oxford near Dorchester Ms. Sir The Secretary of War handed me an account received from General Hamilton for sundry expenses incurred by you for which payment is claimed. On reference to the charges I find they come under different heads of expenditure and separate regulations will govern in their allowance, it will therefore be proper that separate statements should be formed, to enable you to do this & complete the payments you have charged, a sum of Two hundred & fifty dollars will be remitted to Jonathan Jackson supervisor Boston to be paid to you on application, for which sum you will give him your receipts. After you shall have completed the payments and obtained the receipts of the parties, they are to be forwarded to this Office with the statements hereinafter mentioned. The Recruiting Instructions (see 15^th Sect.) provide for indemnifying Officers commanding Regimental Circles & Districts for travelling expenses to which they are liable in visiting Recruiting Quarters. — The number of miles you have travelled in this business must be stated, the periods when performed, the name of the places, to & from, certified on Oath or affirmation included in a separate account agreeably to the sum per diem allowed in those Instructions — The 16^th Section of the same Instructions provides for allowing the actual expenses Officers are at