Treasury Department Aug 29. 1798 Sir I have recieved a letter from the Comptroller of the Treasury of [this date] of which the inclosed is a copy. The practice of [undecipherable: probable reading "pay perception"] therein mentioned, was [undecipherable: probable reading "illustrated"] by the papers to which it refers, is directly in the face of laws and instructions ... [undecipherable: probable reading "absolutely incompatible"] with order and due responsibility in the public expenditures ... and consequently both [undecipherable: probable reading "inadmissible"] and [undecipherable: probable reading "inexcusable"]. [The Treasury cannot] [undecipherable] I must therefore request [undecipherable] of you Sir to obtain from M^r Swan an explanation [undecipherable] of the reasons which would have led him to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of great and irregularity, and to [undecipherable] [unwarrantable?] [undecipherable] the most frank and peremptory [undecipherable] mode of [undecipherable] to whomsoever it may concern — to avoid a repetition of the like procedure and to [undecipherable] * conform to the plan which has been marked out. [undecipherable] it It is impossible that this Department can continue to advance money for the pay of the troops under [undecipherable] a mode of application [undecipherable] — If there be any of the details of the plan, which has been transmitted, difficulty of execution, the difficulty ought to be clearly and particularly stated ... when the [undecipherable] will be duly considered and any alteration which [undecipherable] will be made. But [undecipherable] there has been a total and [unparalleled?] disregard of [undecipherable] law and instruction. I have the honor to be very respectfully Sir Your most Obed^d & humble Servant, [August 29^th 1798] [The Secretary at War] [undecipherable: signature] The Secretary at War