Simmons received accounts and vouchers for services rendered as Engineer for the construction of fortifications for the town and harbour of Baltimore. Accounts examined, found correct, and sum will be paid to Foncin by John Kilty, supervisor at Baltimore.
Certification of payment; $570.26 to Doctor Thomas Welsh for services as surgeons mate attending the sick of Captain Lemuel Gates company of Artillerists and Engineers at Boston, Charleston, and Fort Independence
Regarding Hamilton's suggestion that two battalions of artillery be united, Stoddert says that he has just assumed the duties of the office of Secretary of War and is still too ignorant to make a determination. He asks for a postponement of the decision.
Benjamin Stoddert finds that the estimates for the removal of William Simmons' office to Washington are higher than those for other offices. An advance of $800 will be made to Simmons for himself and $3878 for the gentlemen in his office, for which he is held accountable. Those with families should not receive more than $100 in excess of the amount due them.
Information on invoices, waggon load of merchandise arrived yesterday. Request for orders on how to act if Indians "become troublesome" following meetings with Colonel Hawkins. Wright is particularly concerned because his family is with him.
"No person sir will regret your leaving the army more than myself. The profession meets with an irreparable loss and both officers and soldiers lose one of their best parents."
Routine correspondence concerning the appointment, transfer, promotion, discharge, desertion, leave, and assignment of individual officers and soldiers.
Treasurer of United States to remit sum to Jackson. Sum due to Thomas Welsh for medicines purchased and services rendered by him to the company of Capt. Gates and several recruiting parties near Boston. Pay and emoluments allowed Welsh was equivalent to that of a surgeon's mate.
Simmons referred to a previous letter sent to Swan that the identified unauthorized charges made by officers to Contractors. Contractor's had not submitted receipts at the time of the current letter so Simmons could not state if any of the charges were to be reimbursed. Simmons suggested withholding pay from mentioned officers. Major [Dlum?] notified Simmons that officers at Scotch Plains continued to take forage from contractors, even though their allotted allowance was no longer valid. Simmons advised that more officers will have pay docked.
Simmons notified Hon. Benjamin Stoddert that in compliance with his letter, Simmons advanced the gentlemen in his office their salaries through June in order to pay for the expenses related to moving themselves and their families to Washington. Simmons advanced himself his salary for the same reasons.
Certification of payment; $208.07 to John Foncin for compensation as engineer for constructing fortifications for defense of town and harbor of Baltimore Maryland.
President Adams has directed that the public offices attached to the seat of government should be removed from Philadelphia and relocated to the City of Washington. Simmons should arrange the affairs of his office so as to load his books and papers on wagons to be provided by the purveyor on Saturday or Monday next. Office furniture will be transported on Thursday.
The late Secretary of War has deposited with Stoddert the sum of $123.48, being monies belonging to Samuel Lewis, late a clerk in the War Office. Lewis wants this sum passed to his credit so Simmons should make a counter warrant on him for this sum.
