Alexan. J. Dallas Esq^re Department of War Accountants' Office Sir Decem^r 11^th 1795. I understand that M^r Hagner one of the Clerks in this Office has been furnished with a notice to pay a fine as a delinquent for not turning out in the Militia employed against the insurgents [in] the late insurrection in the State of Pennsylvania. [It] was understood at the time the Militia were called [up] that all [the] Clerks in the War Department of which M^r Hagner was one, (whose duty it must be considered w[as] greatly increased in consequence of that event) were [ex]empt from Military Duty, and even those who [ap]plied to my predecessor for permission to go out with the troops were actually refused in consequence of the increasing business from that source — as I kn[ow] of no appeal these Gentlemen have — I have to re-quest Sir that you will be pleased to give me your Opinion whether the Clerks in the War Departm[ent] will have to pay the fine, if not how they are to proceed to be exonerated therefrom. — I am Sir &^c William Simmons