[Address panel, verso:] H. [undecipherable] Smith — 15 march 1800 The Secy. of war presents his respects to D. Smith and is sorry he cannot say any thing more [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] than is contained in his note of yesterday. on the subject of the D. note of to day. It would undoubtedly give him pleasure to afford relief to the Lieutenant but as [strikethrough: that] it cannot be done without esta- :blishing a precedent which other officers who come to the seat of Government would naturally resort to, and without interfering with the Paymaster [strikethrough: [undecipherable: probable reading General]] instructions from the Treasury Depart- :ment, and [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] the course prescribed for paying the army he hopes the Lieutenant [strikethrough: will see the propriety of his [undecipherable] to come again] [strikethrough: him from [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] on [undecipherable]] orders in the case to the Pay master General. 15 March 1800