Sir:

I received your Letter, without date, by Express, which I have laid before the Council of State for their Consideration.

I have their sanction to inform you that the Receipt proposed to be given by the Commissioner will sufficiently answer the purposes of the State, and as the amount of Claims cannot be added up in time, the method which you propose of having two locks to the Chest in which the Vouchers are packed, and that the key of one lock should be kept by the Commissioner and the other by the Agent, is very proper, but I can by no means agree that any Accounts or Vouchers should be taken out of your Office until they are first duly Registered and you have obtained a proper Receipt for them. It is not to be presumed that the United States will be capable of an Act of such flagrant injustice as to deny a further time for stating and establishing the accounts of any State, when such State has used every reasonable exertion in her power to conclude that business within the time prescribed by Congress. I have sent the Warrants which you requested by Mr. McKerel.