War Department, 3 June 1800. Sir, I find on enquiry that the Estimate for the removals of the Gentlemen in your office is higher than any where else, on — yt, I — [strikethrough: the extra comis, req'd to be to travel &c,] able to advance as much more as will pay the expence of removing the Gentlemen and their Families to Washington. For these objects I have requested an advance to be made you, for which you will be accountable, of 800 Dollars for yourself, and 3878 D: [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] for the Gentlemen in your Office — this I hope will be sufficient. Those who have not Families should not recieve more than 100 Dollars beyond the Sum due them. I am, Sir, : Your most obd^t Serv^t Ben Stoddert William Simmons Esq^r [Endorsement — upper right: War Department / 3^d June 1800 / [undecipherable] Stoddert / [undecipherable] June 3^d / Stating that the Estimate of [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] for removing / [undecipherable] their families from [undecipherable] to Washington — / referring within to letter to [undecipherable] / Secy of the Treasury / wth a [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] amount] [Notation — lower left: June 3 / War [undecipherable] Paxton] [Address: William Simmons Esq^re]