[Philad.^a April 29. 1800 James Miller Ag. 2 d.G. Received same day] William Simmons Esq^r. Accountant War Department Philadelphia Philadelphia April 29^th 1800 Quarter Master Gen^l Office William Simmons Esq^r Sir As I am confident that no compensations or allowances have been authorized by the Quarter Master General or admitted into his accounts which have passed through my hands, without due consideration and the most pointed attention to the Interests of the United States which are under his superintendance, I shall cheerfully, and promptly comply with the requisition which has been made by the Sec^y at War in consequence of your representations, and as soon as you favor me with notice of the particular cases to which your observations have reference, I will as far as my information goes lay before you to be handed to the Secretary the reasons which have influenced the decisions — In your letter to the Secretary of the 25^th inst. it is stated that you have "discovered charges "for Compensation highly excessive to certain individuals "for services, several of whom are Officially appointed by the "Secretary of War to discharge the duties in the War "Department." You also state that "the enormous "Commision of 5 P^r Cent have been allowed "to some persons who have stipulated pay and to others "whose [strikethrough: —] Commisions are regulated at 2½ P^r Cent "and ½" — as these are points which have been animadverted upon by you to the Secretary without any specification thereof being made. I find it necessary to request further information respecting them that I may be enabled to give such explanations as will be proper and I hope satisfactory — I have the Honor to be, Sir With Great Respect Your Very Ob^t Able Ser^vt Ja C Miller Q^r D^lr G^l