West Point January 21 1781 I do myself the Honor to [strikethrough: render] your certificate from the Secretary at War, and am obliged to suspend, [strikethrough: and they] [strikethrough: the admission of] your claim for consideration — the resolves granting the half pay you well food, extend [strikethrough: and give] [undecipherable] only continue in the army to the end of the war. — and all the practical arrangements, in [undecipherable: act] of Decem^r 21 1781 there have been a particular promise which has given it — In the last mentioned instance there is an obvious negative [strikethrough: in it] [undecipherable: to] grant nothing more but what was before given, I cannot construe it to extend beyond or place you in a better situation, than what the former resolutions intitle you — I am sensible of the inequality of go these resolutions, but must be bound by them until I [strikethrough: can procure] have further directions — Col^o Henry B. Livingston, [undecipherable: Law]