War Office 12^th February 1798 Sir. The Secretary of War, requests the Accountant to in-form him, what progress has been made, in complying with his request to the Accountant, in his letter of the 4^th December 1797. The Persons interested in obtaining Patents, are extreme-ly urgent, and pressing to have them, and as the books and documents, are in the Accountants Office, which can con-firm or check the Virginia List, The Secretary, begs to know, whether the requirement, is in train to be complied with, or if it is not, what are the obstacles, which delay it. respectfully Sir Your most obed^t Servant James McHenry William Simmons Esq^r Accountant of the War Department