[Public Service John Pierce Esquire Paymaster General] [marginalia, upper left corner: [undecipherable] Rec^d [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] / [undecipherable]] [bottom right: [undecipherable]] [Env] Wilmington the 1^st of June 1784 I sit down to acknowledging the receipt of your letter dated from Trout point, until I thought it probable the answer might reach you in Philadelphia, where you might compare the Pay abstract shown by us to you, with the rolls in abstract on which act that for paid Yearly for [undecipherable] September and October, which will probably enable you to decide whether he does pay for the whole [undecipherable] after receipt of the [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable] that final payments made by Col. Hartley however with authenticated [undecipherable], cannot be admitted to debit the United States, and [undecipherable] must be lost by his heirs, or by the State, unless it should be possible for you to bring [undecipherable] to account [undecipherable] receives in this State near [undecipherable]. But I am told already that he had his papers by putting them on board the same [undecipherable] that the public papers of the State were, which lying in Christians when the British took possession of the town, was captured. If there was [undecipherable] against amount, or if the terms of his contract can be found, either of them might probably [undecipherable] a decision, whether the charge of [undecipherable] subsistence from the 1^st of May, to the time the contract is said to have taken place, to the time the regiment [undecipherable], ought to debit the United States or not. Col Hartley would have [undecipherable] all the sums charged him in your account except the 2000 dollars advanced him by Col [undecipherable] for recruiting, which never came to his knowledge, until it [undecipherable] from your account, I shall endeavour to [undecipherable] it either from him or the State. The [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] are not connected with any monies drawn to [undecipherable] unless a sum given them by the State and [undecipherable] to debit the United States in detailing which you may [undecipherable] probably find me. [undecipherable] While these officers were prisoners the new regiment are [undecipherable] do it first compliment of officers in [undecipherable] his own regiment and when they were [undecipherable] from captivity they did not resume their rank in the regiment [undecipherable] this unmerited neglect by the commissioners appointed to grant warrants from the State [undecipherable] a sum of money, and charge it to the United States which I regret it, because the neglect was in these new commissioners. But they reply that after the commissioners were [undecipherable] citizens also of this [undecipherable] may [undecipherable] it was in consequence of a recommendation of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of those from having any encounter [undecipherable] with commissioners, [undecipherable] there may be no other [undecipherable] [undecipherable] can these officers do [undecipherable] when the regiment was completely officered in [undecipherable] of them. The second account against Col [undecipherable: Proffitt's?] [undecipherable] wants to be decided, then the one of that name, the one Col [undecipherable] and 4^th, whom I am [undecipherable] acknowledging the first charge [undecipherable]. But I am [undecipherable] that the last [undecipherable] Hartley's regiment, but it will have no connection with any accounts I have of late, and I suppose he ought to account with you unless he hath already done it with Yeats. Holland is dead it is probable he [undecipherable] settled with Yeats. Patten I have been [undecipherable] he [undecipherable] with Yeates and accounted with him for the 500 dollars — Hall I suppose must account with you also, as the reports also of the monies advanced him hath not come to my knowledge, except some small [undecipherable] on the accounts of some of the recruiting officers who have settled with the State, and I shall take care to notify you of when their accounts are [undecipherable] and I have promised one to ask you whether any of the officers of the Delaware have [undecipherable] a paymaster or auditor of the army [undecipherable] the accounts produced it appears [undecipherable] there are those settled with Yeats in the beginning of 1777 they have [except the [undecipherable] from records of Col Hall] altogether [undecipherable] monies of and [undecipherable] settled accounts with the State for accounting, so that the whole expense of that service is now brought on by the State as a charge against the United States. Among others is one by Capt. Stone of a state debt which amounts [undecipherable] to a considerable sum and having some extraordinary charges I do leave to refer to you for making [undecipherable] allowances as are agreeable to the usual practice under the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable]. I have received a copy of the account with some notes thereon, and if you think better to [undecipherable] the settlement so as to apportion what [undecipherable] the United States are [undecipherable] with, I will transmit you the original with the vouchers, and [undecipherable] those residing in [undecipherable] as referred from if required, but if you should think this unnecessary, please to oblige me with your [undecipherable] in or on the perusal of the account. The State have also charged the United States with advances in clothing, and money made to several officers of their line, which I intended to admit, and keep an account of the amount advanced the particular officers, and transmit to you, to be discounted with them on a final settlement. This mode appears to me conformable to the general system adopted in settling the public accounts. But if it does not accord with your [undecipherable] please inform me. I am dear Sir with very great esteem your most obedient Servant William W[undecipherable] [address panel: John Pierce Esquire Paymaster Gen^d.]