Tho^s Y. Howe 2^nd Lieut^t of the 11^t Reg^t to the Office of Secretary as this act does not appear to contemplate his Secretary being drawn from the line of the Army with the pay & emoluments of both Offices, The Secretary of War will please to decide whether Lieut^t Howe is entitled to receive the allowances of a Lieuten^t in addition to that of a Captain; and also whether the general expression of Captain is to be construed to mean a Captain of Cavalry or of Infantry. Sam &c W.S. M^r John Mackey Harper's Ferry Sir Accountants' Office March 20^th 1800 I have just received your letter of the 12 Instant with its enclosures & observe that you will be here shortly for the purpose of closing your Accounts at this Office. You are therefore requested to bring with you the letter which I wrote to you, under date of the 9 January 1799, with the statement therein mentioned. Sam &c W.S. The Secretary of War Sir March 20^th 1800 The accounts of the Quarter master General which I have before advised you of, continue to be under examination in this Office; and as that examination progresses, evils are discovered, which in my opinion call for immediate remedy. To describe to you each individual charge which I consider extravagant, would be too lengthy for this communication. I have therefore deemed it proper to have selected, from the disbursments, the items charged for the transportation of Officers private effects; this appearing to me a material abuse, and one of those which call for immediate remedy. To enable you more fully to perceive the extent of the expenditures on the head of such transportation, I inclose you the list selected, as above referred to. It appears from the charges that most of them are for the transportation of Stores & other articles purchased in this City for the use of Officers & others. How far the United States are to be considered as liable for the payment thereof, remains to be decided; in my opinion the Officers should refund the amount. The charge of transportation of an Officers effects, when he is ordered from one military Post to another, or from his place of residence to join the army, should necessarily be defrayed by the United States; but it appears to me, that it could never have been intended that Officers stationed at a distance from the Seat of Government should be supplied at the public expence with the transportation of Stores or such other effects as they may be pleased to direct the purchase of & have forwarded to their Stations. Under this view of the circumstances I have submitted the charges to the Secretary of War; and request that he will furnish me with a decision on the subject, and at the same time, cause such regulations to be adopted as the nature of the case calls for. Sam &c W.S. C.O. Rich^d Fish Esq^r New York Sir Accountants' Office March 22^nd 1800 The Treasurer of the United States will remit you the sum of Fifty nine dollars & ⁸⁹/100, which you will please to pay to M^r William Allison, Stewart of the New York Hospital taking his duplicate receipts for the same; being for Board, medicine & attendance & for the funeral expences of [undecipherable] Sullens late a Private, (& insane in Capt^t Fred^k Price's Company 1 Reg^t of A. & E. from 31 July to