McHenry reviews all letters thus far written on the Hugh McAlister case. After summarizing all of his correspondence with William Simmons, the War Department Accountant, he inquires of Adams whether Simmons' reluctance to answer certain questions is intolerable insubordination (on McHenry's interpretation of the resolution on bounties for returned deserters, which he did not answer until his second letter, and on why the reasons for McAlister's rejection were not communicated to him, which was never answered). McHenry suggests that this might be insubordination to both himself and the president, since Adams initiated the entire inquiry.