Annapolis March 7. 1785 Dear Sir At M^r Hamiltons request they you will inform me of any thing is done in Congress for the agents, & likewise the allowance given by your date to Major Bowen & Cap^t. Beatty — As we hope the period not distant when he will begin to issue. He wishes to obtain every information that may help towards the Execution of his Duty, in a way least liable to error & consonant to the measures of the Northern Agent. He therefore desires to know in what manner the Pennsylvania Agents acted respecting the Identity of Persons applying for Certificates as it is not probable they could have a personal Knowledge of each Individual of the Line; My opinions on that head leads me to think an Agent can be governed by the Papers only which may be presented, & that he will be justified in Delivering the Certificates to the holder of the Discharges if when not in the hands of the Original Proprietors they are accompanied with a proper transfer — If you can advise any thing on this head please to communicate it — By an advertisement in the Philad^a. papers it is likewise observed that the Agents endorse the Certificates in Pennsylvania — From whence does this originate, or rather is it necessary for Cap^t. Hamilton to do the same — Foreseeing the necessity of Papers when I should take up the Officers Accounts, I wrote you last summer deeming to be furnished with the settlement made by individuals at the Treasury — The subject of your work among the multiplicity of business on which you are engaged has escaped your Notice, but they are now become immediately an object and I wish you would be so kind as to have them assorted & forwarded as soon as possible — I have been obliged to make several applications for the want of those papers, as found Monies were credited the United States, in some instances of which I have no knowledge, & which I cannot account for in any other Line but the Treasurers Books — The army Accounts is of so extensive & complicated a nature, that difficulties may reasonable be expected, even in the most eligible situation, but much more so when a settlement is to take place remote from the original Books & papers from which no abstracts that can be made of appear sufficient to elucidate many occurrencies — If you think me troublesome & making superfluous requisitions, however (as before) I assure you that I have made it a point to ask for nothing, which does not appear essential, & for a neglect of which I shall expect to be accountable to the public for consequences that might ensue — In consequence of my bringing the old Musters with me, M^r Richardson has been enabled to detect a great number of im- -position