Philadelphia April 25. 1786 Dear Sir Since I had the Honor [of your letter], I have not often had leisure to enable me to make the kind trials to conform myself so accurately as to give [undecipherable — text obscured by ink blot] [undecipherable] raised from [undecipherable] the consignment of [undecipherable] requisitions of Congress to the [undecipherable] chiefs, they were called the last States, and were used by the different Terms in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] as they could be obtained — they were victualed by the U States, but were not paid or clothed by them — The agent for your lines and did not request [undecipherable] and the States neglected to do it and probably had promised them more than the continental allowances — The Privations therefore of New States, may perhaps less, [undecipherable] whether the States or the continental shall make the settlement amount? 3. Supposing the States should [undecipherable] it, whether any promises made these tribes more than the nation [undecipherable] United States, would be and with [undecipherable] as against the U States If a [undecipherable] not an article is established, one way or the other, I as a public officer should then [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the States do not allow to [undecipherable] his settlement, if a person is properly authorized to transact this business with me, I will under- take to do it myself — but it is absolutely necessary as the other States have asked for their men in this class of times that it should be fully under- [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] my principal [undecipherable] [undecipherable] many the friendships that [undecipherable] would be my other friends which [undecipherable] and some other [undecipherable] have shown lately in my favor as long off, and how much [undecipherable] that any person should object to granting me some allowances for the extended on [undecipherable] difficulties to [undecipherable] without any just appearance and free prejudiced so to [undecipherable] and when Congress may make consider that I have done [undecipherable] since the appointment than [undecipherable] after [undecipherable] public Officers in the United States Officers for the same time, I presume they will [undecipherable] thinks my professions not unreasonable in the meantime however, I will be in all [undecipherable] obliged, as I leave, do some [undecipherable] from the Publice [undecipherable] — that an additional clause to the Excuse for me of course, that I shall also beg be allowed forever for these Powers, which is called the answer as to [undecipherable]