Cap^t Saats Morris Fort M^c Henry near Baltimore Accountants Office May 21 1800 Sir In the accounts this day raised from Rob^t Gilmor Chairman of the named Committee at Baltimore, I observe that he has made payments to a considerable amount for extra pay allowed to Soldiers for labour done on the fortifications & the return on which payment has been made to forge there your certificate appears stating the same to have [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] as a gratuity. As charges of this nature are considered as inadmissible without the express authority of The Secretary of War, I have to request that you will state to me the authority under which the Soldiers at Fort M^c Henry have been paid the allowance stated in your certificate. Sam H. [undecipherable]