[Endorsement on outside of folded letter:] Treasury Department Comptrollers Office January 23^d 1800 of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] no [undecipherable] day [undecipherable] Copy [to?] the to the [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] following the [undecipherable] Officers for Compt [undecipherable] Treasury Department Comptroller's Office January 23^d 1800. — Sir, The enclosed copy of a letter to the Secretary at War, in answer to one from him of the 18^t instant requesting uniform rules to be prescribed in relation to claims for double rations under the 4^th Section of the Act of the 3^d of March 1797, will explain to you the opinion of the Treasury in relation to the course to be pursued in doubtful cases. — I am Sir, very respectfully Your obed^t Serv^t [undecipherable] William Simmons Esquire. — [Endorsement on outside of enclosure:] Copy of a letter from the Comptroller of the Treasury to the [Secy?] at War of [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] being [undecipherable] double [undecipherable] allowance of [undecipherable] Treasury Department, Comptroller's Office January 23^d 1800. Sir, You will I hope excuse me from giving to the Paymaster General the instructions requested in your letter of the 18. instant. General rules should not be established when it is apprehended their application would operate in some instances injuriously to individuals, in others to the public. It besides I think belongs exclusively to the Secretary at War, to designate the officers to whom, and the periods for which double rations are to be allowed. If you should be pleased to concur in this opinion, a letter from you will be the proper mode of removing difficulties as they arise in the course of adjustment, whether in the office of the Paymaster General or the Accountant. I beg permission also respectfully to recommend that as your opinion will be regarded at the Treasury as the only authority for making payment in doubtful cases, it will conduce to the satisfaction of those concerned, that it should be always given in writing, and to the dispatch of business if explicitly in favor, or against the allowance. — I have the honor to be Sir, with great respect, Your Ob.^t Serv.^t (signed) John Steele Comptroller The Hon.^ble James M^cHenry Esq. Sec'ry at War.