Jon^s Jackson Esq^r Accountants Office Boston February 25^th 1801. Sir I have received your letter dated the 16 Inst^t. The difference in the voucher you mention arose as you suggested. I will accordingly be rectified. Doct^r Thomas Welsh's account is received but tho' the former one was paid under authority then deemed Sufficient it only extended to the Period for which that account was allowed. It will be necessary to shew in the present case, as in the former that Doctor Welsh was necessarily employed for the period charged & this by certificates from each Officer whose command he attended; It appears to me that the same necessity for a Surgeon to attend the troops stationed in that vicinity does not now exist as when the appointment was made, at least if there is any necessity the duty cannot be so extensive as when the allowance was first fixed - there being but a trifling number of troops now, in comparison with what there was then, & expected thereafter to be - and the appointment being altogether temporary and only intended for such time as the necessity of his appointment might be Superseded by the presence of a Surgeon or Surgeons Mate, It may be proper that the allowance be reduced according to the number of Troops now attended. Such information therefore on the Subject as may enable the Secretary of War to decide (for the claim must be in the first instance referred to him for his decision) thereon, it will be proper to forward with the certificates of the Officers before mentioned; and for any future claim the like authority with the additional evidence of the Doctors Services by the insertion of his name in the muster Roll will be required, his account is therefore returned for such evidence as I have mentioned. I acknowledged the receipt of your letter of the 29^th Nov^r on the 10 Dec^r last and then informed you that your accounts would be put in train for examination. I have been so much hurried since the meeting of Congress that they have not yet been taken up, but in a few days they shall be acted upon, Sam^le W.S.