[22 Nov[embe]r 179[7] Presid[en]t of the U.S. [undecipherable: probable reading "Simmans"]] War Office 22 Nov[embe]r 1797 Sir The inclosed copy of a letter to the accountant for the department of war dated the 11^th inst with his answer of the same date is respectfully sub- mitted for your consideration. Tho I have been induced to make this representation from the accountants having refused to countersign a warrant drawn by me agreeably [strikethrough: to the] as I conceived to [strikethrough: the established] [undecipherable] practice of the office [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] only be a [undecipherable] informed besides [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] mention [undecipherable] as I have not [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] my letter to the accountant [strikethrough: occasion it] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] aforesaid [strikethrough: letter], that immediately after [undecipherable: probable reading "M'Devers"] had acquainted me with his the accountants refusal to sign the warrant, he signified to him that it had received his signature and was ready for him, and that I recollect but one other denial [strikethrough: on his part] by the accountant since my coming into office. This was on a warrant drawn in favour of the late Maj. Gen. Wayne who [strikethrough: was being a] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] a [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] of his [undecipherable] could not join the army without an advance of money. [undecipherable] was made to him accordingly. I inclose also M'Lewis's letters to me on the [strikethrough: aforesaid] of the warrant in question subject dated the 1 & [undecipherable] of Nov[embe]r instant, with sundry letters which were — with respect to this warrant in question. There is subjoined to this statement letters [strikethrough: which also] show why the money was required and [undecipherable] the uses to which it [strikethrough: was] applied. [undecipherable]or N^o 1. a letter from Benj[ami]n Hawkins dated the 20 Sep[tembe]r 1797 requiring money to be remitted to him to pay certain secret pensions to certain Indians. N^o 2. a letter from the Sec^y of war to Brig. Gen. Wilkinson dated 16 [undecipherable] directing a reward to be paid to Indians who might detect and bring to any of the posts spies or emissaries. N^o 3. a [undecipherable] letter from [undecipherable] McKee one of the assistant agents to the [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] Cherokee Indians, dated the [undecipherable] of June alt[undecipherable] [strikethrough: charged] with a [undecipherable] on the mission. [Ditto] also a letter to McKee from the Sec^y of war dated 25 July [strikethrough: [undecipherable]]. N^o 4 a letter from the Sec^y of war to Benj[ami]n Hawkins dated 8 Nov[embe]r 1797 N^o 5. a letter [strikethrough: from] d^o to M^r McKee from the [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] dated 8 Nov[embe]r. N^o 6. a letter from d^o to Brig. Gen. Wilkinson dated 8 Nov[embe]r. N^o 7. a letter from [undecipherable] to Major Constant Foreman agent for the department of war in the State of Georgia dated [undecipherable] Nov[embe]r 1797 I [undecipherable: probable reading "scarce"] only add that when I [strikethrough: I had [undecipherable]] called for this money, Maj[or] Foreman [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] to carry it, who [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [strikethrough: was detained for [undecipherable] [strikethrough: to [undecipherable]]] [undecipherable] McKee was at Carlisle waiting the arrival of [undecipherable] from the [undecipherable: probable reading "say-board"] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] country of [undecipherable] and Brigade Major [undecipherable] who was for [undecipherable] [undecipherable] what I [undecipherable] for Benj[ami]n [undecipherable] talking [undecipherable] and [undecipherable]. as these did not get forward as soon as I had anticipated, that circumstances here, enabled Notwithstanding the delay occasioned by the accountant me to send by him that part of it destined for M^r Hawkins and M^r McKee. That for Gen. Wilkinson has been transmitted [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] by his Brigade Major [undecipherable: probable reading "Ja. Lovee"]. [undecipherable]