[140.] Caleb Swan Esq. Accountants Office P.M.G. May 13^th 1800 Sir In reply to your letter dated the 12 June enclosing [his?] copy of one from Major Hamilton to Cap^t [Wilkinson?] [P.I.M.S.?] and of a memorandum by way of instruction respecting [affidavits?] of [undecipherable] [expenditures?] I have to observe that [the?] regulations [therein?], do not appear to me to be such as if complied with, will tend much to facilitate the [settlement?] of accounts of that nature, by [preserving?] the [frequent?] personal attendance with Officers at this Office, and as all [undecipherable] for the Regiment [write?] by this means be [paid?] through the Pay Master thereof, and appear in the [statement?] of his accounts. The idea of Gen'l Hamilton relative to the vouchers [necessary?] to be taken appears also to be [incorrect?]. In relation to the [regimental?] finances it is my opinion that they must in common with others be obtained through the [same?] channel, and Gen'l Hamilton promises in his letter for [its?] disbursements by having special Warrants &c. Sam'l [undecipherable] D[undecipherable] --- Cap^t Alex^d. B. Ellery Accountants Office of [undecipherable] [Regiment?] [undecipherable] May 14^th 1800 Sir Your accounts & vouchers for money disbursed by you for Clerk services rendered by sundry persons in the Department of the Adjutant General, have been handed me by the [Sec^y?] of [War?]. The [examination?] of them [undecipherable] that the greater part of your payments have been made to Officers of the Army, whose pay & allowances being fixed by law. I am of [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] but by the same authority; under this impression[undecipherable]