[Docket:] Dec 29. 1784 / from M^r Thompson / [undecipherable] Hartford December 29. 1784 Sir I have now the Satisfaction to acquaint you, that I am in a likely Way to bring to pecuniary Punishment, one of the Knaves that were concerned in the Alteration and altering of the Pay-Master General's Certificate N° 10974 in favor of Benjamin Pay; which you will doubtless remember I brought to your Office on the 25^th of November last to be examined — The Case is as follows — (One Roger Wolcot of this State, procured a Neighbour to pass the altered Note, by his Daughter (little known) to be paid in this City at Auction, by promising them a Share of what it Sold for.) on Complaint to a Magistrate, Wolcot was apprehended and examined, and upon Testimony of the Woman, it appeared so plainly to the Magistrate, that he uttered it, with fraudulent Intent, that he was ordered to Prison, unless he gave Bail for Two hundred pounds, for his Appearance for Trial before the Supreme Court, which is now Sitting; but the Court is not yet come on — he found Bail — but it is expected that the Bonds will be forfeited by his non Appearance — the Circumstances being so strong against, that he has hardly a Chance of appearing [undecipherable] Punishment, of the [undecipherable] Grand Trial — and only by neglecting to appear, the Forfeiture of the Bonds will be all the further Reparations he, or rather his Bondsmen, will be subjected to by the Laws of this State — but besides the criminal prosecutions above recited, I have commenced an Action against him for private Damages, to be tried at a County Court on January — and altho his non Appearance on the criminal Suit, may be taken as an implicit Confession of Guilt, yet he may have the Offender to make a Defence in the civil Suit, in order to mitigate the Damages — therefore my Attorney informs me, that in order to my recovering adequate Damages, it will be necessary to produce your written Deposition, taken upon Oath before a Magistrate, or other competent Authority, setting forth the Facts and Circumstances that arose on my bringing the Note to the Office to be compared with the Record, — and that the Deposition be certified by the Magistrate, and [undecipherable] up, and directed to the adjourned County Court, to be holden at Hartford in Hartford County and State of Connecticut on the fourth Tuesday of Jan^ry 1785 I must therefore intreat the Favor of you, and the other Gentlemen attending in the Office, who were present on the 25^th of November last, to take the Trouble to give your Depositions jointly or severally, relative to the Subject, in the manner above described — and that you would be pleased to forward the same by the Post, under Cover to me; early enough to answer my Purpose; and as it affects the public Interest & Credit; I suppose you can get the Letter franked, but if not, don't fail to Send it without — To refresh your Memory I send a Copy of the Certificate you Signed the 25^th November, the purport of which ought to be expressed in the Deposition and in order to subject the Offender (who is a Man of some Property and Family) to the Severer Mulct, it may be requisite to add Some Circumstances, not contained in the Certificate, which actually took place, if you remember them — namely that upon your discovering the Alteration in the Sum from 3 89/100 Dollars to 300 Dollars, and the artful Manner in which it was executed, you was greatly surprised, and very much alarmed for the Consequences; and to prevent the Note effectually from defrauding any Body you began to deface it by drawing a Line of Ink crosswise upon the Face of it — and (as it seemed to me) was unwilling to let it go out of the Office again — but upon my making myself known, and giving you the Strongest Assurance that I should make no other Use of it than to detect the Knavery and recover my Money, you permitted me to take it away with me — and further, if you had at that Time any Thoughts about destroying the altered Note to prevent fraud and Injury, it will be best to express it in the Deposition — because every Circumstance that tends to prove any Risque I may have run, of losing my Property, or Reputation, must enhance the Damages I sue for — but far be it from me to ask that any Thing should be inserted in the Deposition, but what is strictly true — whatever Charge you may be at, I will cheerfully repay as soon as I know what it is — In full persuasion that you will be so obliging as to comply with my present Request, in the properest and most authentic Manner and Form, and in due Season for the purpose — I am Sir Your most obedient and very humble Servant W^m Thompson Joseph Howell Jun^r Esq^r Assistant Commissioner of Army Accounts Philadelphia or either of the Gentlemen Assistants in the Office P.S. If M^r Howell should be absent, the Depositions of One or more of the Gentlemen who were present at the November Interview, may Serve to prove the Identity of the Note exhibited at that Time, the Sum for which it was given at first, and the alteration thereof, and other Circumstances that can be recollected