Department of War Accountants Office November 14^th 1800 Sir Your letter of the 29^th Ultimo — I have received, and also the copy of your Waste Book — The unfortunate accident which occurred last Saturday night in the House in which the War Office was held having taken fire, and [burned] many of the papers belonging thereto has put us in much confusion — My papers fortunately have been very generally saved — they having been removed before the fire communicated to My appartments — but those of the Secretary of War are very generally consumed — It will necessarily take some time to arrange and fix the papers, but this will not prevent my attention to your accounts when they can possibly be settled — Many Vouchers are required, and however many Statements from you will be necessary to a Settlement — No Vouchers have yet been forwarded of the payments made to M^r Chandler — All the Muster & Pay Rolls are necessary to a Settlement. You will also recollect that all Officers and others to whom you have made advances of public Money must be Called upon to render their accounts to you for Settlement, and any balances in their hands refunded for which you will give the necessary receipts agreeably to your Instructions — A general Statement of the Money you have received, and expended would be a desirable Thing — the particular items need not be enumerated in this Statement; but your expenditures may be arranged under their different heads and reference had to the Vouchers enumerating those already forwarded — I am Sir Your Mo Ob Serv^t [signature: Simmons] David Henley Esq^r a W D Knoxville Tennessee [Postal endorsement: Department of War / Accountants Office; FREE; addressed to David Henley Esq^r / a W D / Knoxville / Tennessee; docket notation on verso: Rec'd — Nov [undecipherable] 1800]