War Department the 7 Feb^r 1800 Sir It has been represented to my satisfaction, that a Clerk was indispensibly necessary to Colonel Ebenezer Stevens agent of the war Department, and that he has for some time past employed one. You will in the settlement of his accounts, make an allowance equal to the salary usually given at New York, for a Clerk of capacity adequate to the business of his office, to ascertain which you will of course require him to produce certificates from known Merchants in that City. I am Sir Your Obedient Servant James McHenry William Simmons Esq^r. [Docket: War Department, 4 year / the Secretary of War / rec'd 8 it] [Endorsement: direct that an allowance re[quested] / Clerk has to be made to Stev[ens] / citizens and [undecipherable] grant on this / understanding [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] as to [undecipherable] / President of an authority [undecipherable] curren[undecipherable]]