Philadelphia April 20^th 1784 [Letter b [undecipherable]] Since my return to this City I have given you a [undecipherable] of the 9^th Ulto. I have applied to the War Office for the information you required concerning Pat[?] Hindman and am not able to find when he entered the service or when he died — by the Resolve of Congress it appears he was enrolled a late of Surgeons on the [15^th?] of November [app?] — your wills fixed by the inclosed [table?] of his account that he has received more than his reenlistment pay in the [d?] heretofore and that it is doubtful either of his is entitled to have his depreciation added he not being [undecipherable] comprehended are the promise of Congress of the [10^th?] of April 1780 — The resolutions of Aug 10 1782 and August 26 1780 promising [undecipherable] year half pay to the widows & orphans of Officers dying in the service, does not appear to respect the foreigners, the former is made solely for the officers of the States and the latter is predicated on the resolution of May 15, 1788 which ment to include [undecipherable] and also refers the resolving it to the state to which such Officers belong, which may [undecipherable] that subject or more than appears of Congress be further authorized, before [undecipherable] left you such claims can be admitted. I am very sensible [strikethrough: Do not burden me[?] [undecipherable] Congress from [undecipherable] adversely [undecipherable] my duty to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] present [undecipherable] Congress [undecipherable] my pleasures may perhaps be thought improper] if you are not sensible that my task is arduous I [strikethrough: [undecipherable] that my lungs are a[?] [undecipherable]] pleasure of every few, I have not devoted a moment of my time to the common duties I owe to myself to pursue my health or spirits both of which are considerably diminished — therefore I apply as a friend to also suggest to Congress the propriety of doing me justice to grant me an ample salary for my past & present services — that I do not wish that my request may be pushed at an improper time, when I may have a less sum granted than I ought to have, but only hope that, the report of the Committee may be taken up and [passed?] in Congress, or that some more ample provision may be made for me,