Treasury Department, Comptroller's Office, November 12. 1800. Sir, I have considered the contents of your letter of the 23 of July last, in relation to the accompts of James O'Hara, Contractor for supplying the troops, and of John Wilkins Quarter Master General, and also the letter of the Secretary at War of the 16. of the same month, which I suppose produced yours. [strikethrough: After the whole of the] accompts rendered shall have been examined, and adjusted in your office, it will be with you to consider whether the interposition of the Treasury in the way requested be necessary or not, and if necessary you will then make reports thereon according to the form prescribed in my letter of the 30. of January 1799. The institution of suits may at times become unavoidable, even during the execution of a contract; but in general it must be conceded that the power of withholding advances is a more prompt and efficacious remedy. That no injury may result however to the public service, or to individuals from the exercise of this power, it will be incumbent on you to expedite by every means in your power the adjustment of the accompts in question, and all other accompts in regard to which similar doubts may be entertained. I am, Sir, very respectfully, Your Obed.^t Serv.^t [undecipherable: signature] William Simmons Esq^r [Comptroller's Office] [William Simmons Esquire, Accountant of the War Department] [the Acct of O'Hara [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable]]