[Addressed: M^r / William Simmons esquire / Accountant / War Department / Philadelphia] [Docket: [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] 16 May / — 23] Knoxville 30^th April 1800 Sir I have written to the Secretary of War requesting his leave to draw for four Thousand eight hundred forty four dollars and forty four Cents on account of my services, that Sum I am under great necessity for, as it will discharge me from a debt due the late M^r Thomas Lee ever since the close of the Revolutionary War. You was well acquainted with the Settlement of [undecipherable] Henleys Accounts and the injury I sustained, it was however concluded betwixt the parties in their final Settlement, that I should take the public debts due Henley, those from Individuals due that [undecipherable], and those I placed in the hands of M^r Lee as security, but the persons failing I was obliged to secure him further by giving a Mortgage on my property in Alexandria, which I have not had time to dispose of, being so confined to this Country. M^r Lee dyed since I have been here and M^rs Lee offers to give me up part of the interest to close the business, so that the public may now help me for the loss I sustained in the public paper; So far from [undecipherable] the public Monies I have no inclination to take [undecipherable] till my accounts are settled without the approbation of the Secretary of War, and that the Government may be secured I shall make over my property in Alexandria which is worth more than the Sum I request to draw for. I therefore request you will converse with the Secretary upon this business, and write to Aaron [undecipherable] esquire; [undecipherable], the Agent of M^rs Lee, and let him know the [undecipherable] of his determination, that I may not be under the censure of tardiness, or breach of promise. I intended to have my accounts closed for this business, but I expect it cannot now be done in time. You have all my Vouchers to the last of December 1799, accept for about six thousand dollars which shall be forwarded soon, and then the Accounts shall be made out quarterly and so forwarded, the extensive business I have on hand, with so much attention formally necessary to all the Commissioners, the Army and the people to keep every means in use for peace has been the cause of such delay in my Accounts. If my request to the Secretary of War should be favorably answered, M^r [undecipherable] Hill must give you up all my papers by a Note of [undecipherable] & Whitney for four thousand and more Dollars, given so long as 1781 with interest, John [undecipherable] Nath^l Rains Note given in the same Year for about six hundred dollars, with the Mortgage upon my land. Those you will keep till my Accounts [undecipherable] settled, the Notes I am afraid are not of much value, but the half Acre Lote of Ground I hope to be double the value I ask to draw for. Your serving me in this business as far as justice to the public will permit will lay me under an obligation, and be a means I hope of making the few remainder of my days more happy than some Years that have past I am Sir with Esteem William Simmons esquire Your Ham^ble Servant David Henley