Dear Sir, At the commencement of the month I [undecipherable] remove with all possible expedition to Philadelphia — the route I propose (as [undecipherable] you suggest) as from thence by [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] to Delaware as far as [undecipherable] and to [Brandy] wine if I meet with difficulty in procuring a passage and find a person who can navigate a vessel up those streams — as I know to act precisely the first step; I write to settle on little business before that time — This [undecipherable] from your department I write beg you either [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] Notes or at Notes in money [undecipherable] you prefer the latter it will be best to receipt for the money [undecipherable] and my Notes on that I may take it up as soon as I arrive — My [undecipherable] account I write to know [undecipherable] [undecipherable] also and for that purpose have [undecipherable] it — I have [undecipherable] also but [undecipherable] whoever [undecipherable] me to get his [undecipherable] — I [undecipherable] a very considerable part of my Tonnage from [undecipherable] [undecipherable] whose Books I suppose you are possessed of — I hope these as far as they will go will answer in part of the demands you have against me — I am with respect [undecipherable: signature] march 25. I have today this day view'd the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] or better that [undecipherable] it will be my papers will run in risk of being wet — I wish if you think best that I take passage to [undecipherable] in some other [Vessel?] that you would find to [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] of our cannot be engaged at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] which will [take?] in my papers on the first of the month or at some certain time as early after as possible — you will please to excuse the trouble I give you as my confinement here obliges me to do so. — [undecipherable: signature] [Col. Timothy Pickering Quartr. Mastr. Genl.] [New York] [Received from State Dep^t. R.P.O. 40/810]