[Docket: T. Col / Ro. H. was / Jan. 23. 800 / Sent same day.] Committee Room Jan. 23^d 800. [upper right: 6761b / 447R. / 47 / L3] As the Bill, Sir, for suspending inlist=ments should it pass, will make a material reduction in the army expenditures during the present year; and as the estimates now before the Committee of ways & means, are predicated on the existing laws, without any reference to that measure; it will be import=ant for the Committee to be informed, as speedily as possible, of the probable a=mount of those expenditures, in case the [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] Bill in question should be agreed to. I have therefore, the honour of requesting, that you will be so good as to furnish me, as [strikethrough: shortly] soon as circumstances may permit, with an estimate of the na=ture alluded to, for the use of the Committee, and also with an abstract of the Statement & returns whereon it may be founded. I will take the liberty of adding With sentiments of very high & [undecipherable] I have the honour to be Sir Your most obed.^t very H^ble Serv.^t / Signed / Rob. G. Harper The Hon^ble The Sec^y at War