Hon John Bell

Secretary of War

Sir.

<​I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 29th ult with the accompanying papers. I have written to the district attornies for the District of & insructing them to bring suits as suggested by Capt [Robert E.] Lee and I have now to request that you will send him forward to [blank] [Montgomery] Blair​> You are requested to cause Robt. E. Lee Capt. Engineers Fort Hamilton, Harbour, to transmit to M. Blair Esq. the U. S. Dist. Attorney, for , an order on the Bank of Missouri, , for the note of , , Joseph Smith & , for $4.866³⁸/₁₀₀ payable in eight months after date, (Sept. 10. 1840) to Capt. Lee, as Agent of the or order, and dated , Illinois, that a writ may be instituted therein, it having been pro◊◊ted for non payment.

You are <​and​> also requested to cause Capt. Lee to transmit to Esq. Dist. Atty. for , an order on the said Bank of , for the note of D. G. Whitney, J. O. Woodruff, & Samuel Holmes, for $482.⁴⁹/₁₀₀ payable in eight months from date (Sept. 10. 1840) to Capt. Lee, as agent of the & dated at , that a suit may be to instituted therein; it having been pro◊◊ted for nonpayment.