Committee Chamber House of Representatives Jany 15^th 1798 — Sir, The Committee of the House of Representatives, appointed pursuant to the inclosed resolution, have directed me to request, that you would, as soon as convenient, furnish them with such detailed accounts of the expenditures therein referred to, as will enable them to perform the duties of their appointment. Supposing, that the accounts directed to be furnished, by a resolution of the 3^d of March last, relative to this object, will, when laid before the House, be referred to them, the Committee have directed me to say, that if those accounts are nearly prepared, they do not wish you to make a separate copy for their use; but that a continuation of them down to the present day, will be desirable. In relation to the second object of their appointment, the Committee request a statement of the leading causes that have retarded the completion of the naval armament, beyond the several periods mentioned in the estimates submitted to the House of Representatives. I am, with due Consideration, The Secretary at War.} Sir, Your most obed^t servant, Edward Livingston Chairman