Department of War Accountants Office April 9^th 1800 Sir, I have received your letter dated the 7^th instant requiring certain statements of expenditure in relation to the Indians Department. Before I can proceed to make such part as the Books of my Office will enable me to do, I must request to be informed the period they are to commence and to what time to be extended. I think it proper to state at the same time the difficulties which arise and prevent me from furnishing the whole of the statements required. — 1^st As relates to the expense of transporting Goods to pay Indian annuities; no settlements have ever been made at this Office under that head — the expense has been generally paid by the Quarter Master General or his Agent, and in some cases by the Agents of the War Department, and those accounts previous to the 16^th July 1798 (the date of the Act making alterations in the Treasury & War Departments) have been settled at the Treasury and since that period the Quarter Masters Accounts are not in a situation to afford the necessary information. 2^do The Contingent Expenses for presents to Indians on their visits to the Seat of Government, and expenses attending their Journies, during their stay and on their return home: These Items can in part be stated when I am notified of the period they are to commence; there have been settlements made by the Agent of the War Department in Knoxville, and some payments on account thereof, have been made by the Quarter Master General. From the manner the accounts are kept it will take a considerable time to select the items and if an immediate necessity exists for furnishing them, I shall be under the necessity of causing it to be done after the usual Office hours as the number of accounts now under examination and which cannot well be suspended, require the constant attendance of all the Clerks in this Office. 3^rd Rations to Indians at the different Military posts within their respective Nations. No accounts for Rations have ever been rendered at this Office previous to the passing of the Act before mentioned, and since that period none have been examined or settled for Rations to Indians. The last paragraph of your letter requesting information viewing the manner in which the accounts are kept, rendered, checked and settled, in this Office, I can only reply to as relates to the items which have been settled here — In those cases for all monies expended I have always required the sanction of the Secretary of War under the powers vested in him by the President of the United States, thus obtained, and a Warrant issued, the amount is charged to the General head of Expenditure of Indian Department, on the Books of this Office; any separate items being required must be selected therefrom. As it will appear from the aforegoing statement that the information to be collected from this Office on the subject you have requested cannot be complete, I await your further directions thereon. — I am Sir, Your ob^t. Servant, [signed] W^m Simmons Acct Dep^t: War The Secretary of War.