Treasury Department March 25. 1795 Sir I have received your letter of March 4^th and as the question therein stated appears to arise intirely upon the construction of the engagements of the Department of War, I forbear to give any definitive opinion on the point; conceiving that the question which you have put, can with more precision be answered by the present Secretary of War. It may be material for you to state, the manner in which the Accounts were opened in your books, for the purpose of fixing the meaning of the word [underline: Expenditures] in the letter of the late Secretary of War dated December 31. 1794 — I am, with consideration Sir Your obed^t Ser^v [seal] [undecipherable: signature] Joseph Howell Esq^r