Jon^s Jackson Esq^r Accountants Office Boston February 5^th 1801 — Sir I received your letter dated the 24^t Ult^o enclosing duplicate receipts for three thousand dollars transm[itted] you on account of the Fortifications erecting at Boston which is filed in this Office — I am &c W.S. --- The Accountant of the War Department Reports agreeably to the request of the Secretary of War in conformity with the Resolution of the House of Representatives of the 2^d February 1801. as far as relates to loss ascertained in his Office in the House occupied by the War Department destroyed by fire on the evening of the 8 Nov^r 1800. That the papers destroyed were those only which had been lodged in the 3^d Story of the building & consisted as follows Viz^t Relating to the Accounts of the Old Army, Several cases containing muster & Pay Rolls } These papers could only be others containing accounts & vouchers of } of use in the examination of Sundry Pay masters & Agents for paying } claims for services prior to Troops, and one case containing individual } the Establishment of the present settlements made by the late Pay master } Government which if not General, & Commissioner of Army accounts. } already settled are all } barred & foreclosed by Acts } of Limitation. The loss will } therefore not materially affect } the settled accounts of } The United States — Relating to services & Supplies under the present Gov^t William Colfaxs accounts as Cont^r } These accounts had been exam[ined] for the State of New Yorke from } & the balances ascertained but 1 January to the 31^st December 1799 } had not been entered on the } Principal Books, owing to Robert Balls accounts as Cont^r for } differences in the statements north Carolina for supplies } of the claimants and those furnished in 1799 & 1800 — — } made at this Office, of which } they had been informed, but } had not finally removed the } objections — No material incon- } venience it is thought will } arise from the loss of those ac[counts] William Colfax & Co^s accounts } This account had not been as Contractors for the States } examined the am^t are therefo[re] of New Yorke, Massachusetts } only known from the claimants Rhode Islands & Vermonts } own statements when they w[ere] from the 1^st January to 31^st } rendered. It is therefore though[t] December 1800 ......... } that no settlement can bel[l] } made until a principle sha[ll] } be fixed for the Settlem^t of } accounts in this situation Nathan Starrs accounts as } This acct had not been exam[ined] contractor for furnishing Swords } owing to a want of Vouche[rs] Belts & Scabbards p Contract } It is probable that duplicat[es] in 1799 ......... } of the accounts can be furnish[ed] } & that no inconvenience will } arise in the settlement— Part of the vouchers belonging } Some of the muster & Pay Rolls of to the Pay master Generals acct: } this acct were lost, but they can } be replaced; No inconvenience but th[at] } of having copies made from dupl[icates] } in the possession of the Pay maste[r] } will arise— Department of War Accountants Office Feb^y 6 1801 — W.S.