[undecipherable] War Department 25 November 1800 [Gen Stevens] Sir I am favour'd with your letter of the 17^th instant The Advance of Five thousand Dollars which you request, is for purposes coming particularly within the province of the purveyor of public supplies and the Quarter Master General, must be postponed until I can receive from you Copies of your Instructions from this Department, a recurrence to the Records of which is prevented by the loss of the papers of my office. I am Sir &^c