[I 143] Department of War, Accountant^s Office, October 21. 1799 Sir, I have received your letter dated the 19^th instant referring to one you wrote me on the 16^th and to which I replied on the 16^th — Agreeably to the request contained in your letter of the 14^th I consulted with the Comptroller of the Treasury on the points you stated and also handed him my letter for perusal previous to its being sent to you, of the contents of which he approved — My intention was to have fully replied to the questions you stated - but as my reply has not been so understood, I have again consulted the Comptroller on the subject and find as I had suggested that he considers the practice of this Office conformable to the resolution. He observed further that when cases occur in relation to which, relaxations may be thought equitable, it will be more proper to consider each with reference to its particular circumstances, than to attempt to prescribe uniform Rules as applicable to all. The resolution itself is in his opinion liable to as few objections as any general Rule that can be devised. In regard to the complaint you state of the Citizen to the President of the United States — I also consulted M^r Steele on the subject previous to my replying thereto, and he was of opinion, that the claim for the reason I stated was properly rejected — as this claim is attended with circumstances of a peculiar nature & the representation is made by direction of the President of the United States I shall take the liberty of Stating the particulars to him in relation thereto. I am Sir &^c (signed) W^m Simmons. The Secretary of War. [Page 17. ID17]