[Jn°. Pierce Esq. / at Annapolis / 20^th October 1785. / (Answered) / to E. Jackson] N° 1 Annapolis October 20 1785. D. S. I did not answer your; N° 1 as I could not tell where I would find you — in respect to the different arrangements mentioned in N° 2 I cannot answer these questions you propose, so fully, as when you have obtained more information as to the facts. It appears to me at present that there is some unfairness in the transactions which will either respect the public or individuals — by what unaccountable means have Officers been continued after they were deranged, while those arranged were permitted to be at home? — I am willing that two sets of Officers be allowed in some very extraordinary cases, but not when it could have been possibly prevented — I have [undecipherable] to Philadelphia for the arrangements [undecipherable] visited — I wish to have a more particular relation of the circumstances of these arrangements. If you settle individually you had best write out an alphabetical list of the Officers and another of the Soldiers of the line for 1782 from the Muster and returns and other information you can obtain — rule it in columns and, state the amount of the pay, the money received and the balance still due — and noted in another column when the [undecipherable] is granted — you can leave blanks against the names of those you are uncertain about; that the blanks may be filled afterwards if the greater part of the line is [undecipherable: perhaps ascertained] you had better deliver over at once certificates to some agent for them and leave the uncertain ones until further information or individual applications — the method will save you from a thousand applications — and forward your business and prevent one receiving [more?] than The half pay of the Officers deranged in 1783, which has been received from the State must be deducted in the settlements. the commutation being in lieu of the [underline: whole] promise of half pay for life — It was determined by the Secretary at War in 1782 and which I have followed, that the extra pay of Officers for a particular duty of execution on their being taken prisoners — because that extra duty was annexed to the duty which cannot be then performed by them, but generally must have been by others — The [undecipherable] of the specie of 1782 & 1783 is to be officially ascertained by you, and when completed an application from me will procure it, the want of this has prevented my obtaining it, before. I am D. Sir yours humble Serv^t. Jn° Pierce E. Jackson Esquire