[Address: John [undecipherable] Esq^re / [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — Esq^res] [Endorsement: from [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] 29 1795 / [undecipherable]] Dear Sir Philadelphia January 19^th 95 I cannot but entertain an opinion that Major Archer is entitled to Commutation - circumstances have much in his favour, and give him a claim upon the Public, which they in justice cannot refuse - his [undecipherable] soldiery (for which he remains Pay and [undecipherable]) was annulled by the Act of Congress of the 31. December 1783, which gave no [undecipherable] resolution to claims [undecipherable] by us, but held [undecipherable] only in the Army at [undecipherable]. By a subsequent resolution, explaining the aforesaid Act, it is declared that no [undecipherable] on the 31. December [undecipherable] [undecipherable] should attend half pay or [undecipherable] of pay, except it has been [undecipherable] [undecipherable], for sooner [undecipherable] to [undecipherable], for [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] by their [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] an officer in one of the Independent [undecipherable] is of the Army, who was at the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable], truly [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in his [undecipherable] [undecipherable] legion from an actual [undecipherable] of his own [undecipherable] — His appointment in the legion had no higher than that of a [undecipherable], he may justly [undecipherable] the pay and emoluments of a Captain to which he had an indefeasible right, and on which on [undecipherable] humble [undecipherable] his Commission should be [undecipherable]. I shall be happy if after due consideration of this Gentleman's case, your ideas correspond with mine, as I sincerely wish that very [undecipherable] Granted to the Army in their past sufferings, may be extended to Major Archer who was [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and Prosperity in the [undecipherable] of his Country. I beg my dear fellow, your early answer [undecipherable] my [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [signature] John Penn Esquire [[undecipherable] [undecipherable] of New York, in a [undecipherable] — for their affairs only to go to the Springs]