[undecipherable] War Department [undecipherable] Dec^r [undecipherable] Hon^ble M^r [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Sir, I am honored with your favor of the 2[undecipherable] enclosing the petition of Captain Rickard and, by papers accompanying it, which are herewith returned. Little is known about the claims of Captain Rickard at this Office. Some months ago he visited [on?] me and requested me to examine his account against the United States for which the accountant of this Department made some objections. To gratify him I consented though out of the ordinary course of the business of the Office. I afterwards returned the account observing to him that some of the charges were certainly inadmissible, but that his regular course was to settle it with the accountant. I am now informed by that Officer that the account was afterwards settled by him & that every allowance was made that the [undecipherable] regulations of the Department would authorise & the balance found due him was [undecipherable]. If Captain Rickard is dissatisfied with the settlement the law has given him an appeal to the Comptroller of the Treasury. [Whatever?] ground Captain Rickard [undecipherable] peculiar relief [undecipherable] are unknown at this Office, [as?] the settlement of his account [undecipherable] not [undecipherable] I have the honor to be