War Department 6^th August 1799 Sir I have received your letter of this date, informing me that Archibald Cleary, agent of Fortifications for New Port Rhode Island has not exhibited any accounts at your Office for settlement, for expenditures on account of the fortifications erecting in the Harbor of New Port, and that you deem it proper to state for my information, that, including the amount of Warrant (N^o 442) issued this day, he stands charged, with the sum of forty five thousand, three hundred and fifty Dollars. Representations like the present affords no grounds on which I can act. It is the appropriate duty of the accounting Officers to call those charged with public monies at proper periods to a settlement. You do not inform me that you have called on M^r Cleary to render his accounts; or to assign reason why they have not been rendered; You do not state that he has refused, or declined to come to a settlement or that particular circumstances exist to induce peculiar caution in making advances to him, without which the measures of defence on an important point of the Union, would be retarded. It is proper you should call upon all persons charged with public monies on the books of your Office, at stated and convenient periods, to render their accounts for settlement; and when they appear inattentive to your requisitions, decline, or assign no sufficient cause, for delay in compliance with it, it will be right to state the facts and all the circumstances to me, in order that I may direct measures suited to each particular case. I am Sir With respect, Your obedient servant: James McHenry [The Accountant's Department of War]