brought within the sum voted, would it be necessary to provide by Ordinance for an Excess on one of the items in - Say the Estimate under this head - "Clothing shoes tea"? I should have thought that as the Estimates are prepared long before hand and can never be exactly adhered to, some small latitude might be allowable as regards the reapportionment of the details, so long as the sum voted by Ordinance for each service is not exceeded. As however some of the Queries forwarded lately to the Auditor General by the Commissioners of Audit would seem to point to a different conclusion I think it better to refer the matter for your decision.
I have the honor to be, My Lord Duke, Your Grace's Most Obedient Servant,
Reference GM Robinson