[Docket: Copy of a letter from th[e] [St]eele, Comptroller [of the] [Treasury] dated 23^d January 1799] [Copy] Treasury Department Comptrollers Office January 23^d 1799 Sir I beg leave to transmit herewith a letter from Calb Swan Eqn^e Pay Master General dated the 30^th of November last; also a copy of the letter of instructions to him from Brigadier General Wilkinson therein referred to. As the Accountant of your Department was long since furnished with copies of the instructions and forms forwarded to the Paymaster of the troops on the 26 July 1792, by the Comptroller of the Treasury, these letters are transmitted with a view that you may communicate (or cause to be communicated through the Accountant) such further instructions to the Paymaster, as shall appear to you necessary, for obviating the difficulties and inconvenience, to which a [underline: rigid adherence to those instructions forms] would in his opinion, Subject the public service. It is respectfully conceived that this course will be most regular, and conformable with the principles already established between the two Departments. I have informed Mr Swan of a reference of his communication to your Department, in order that he might be acquainted with the source from which the additional instructions requested by him may be expected. I have the honor to be Sir with great respect. Your ob^t ser^t (Signed) Jno Steele James M^cHenry Esq^r