John E. Van Alen, Esq^r in Congress Sir Accountants Office February 20^th 1797 In answer to the application made by you in behalf of the claim of Captain Derrick Lane for his Services under the former Government, I have to observe that it does not appear by any document on file in this Office that his claim was ever before filed, or that any balance is stated to be due to him, therefore any claim that he may have for services previous to the 4^th day of March 1789 is barred and precluded from settlement by an "Act of Congress relative to claims against the United States passed on 12^th February 1793 — I am &c. W^m Simmons Acct.