Annapoli^s 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 state to Major Bowen & Cap^t Bratty — 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 Agents. 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 opinion 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 they are 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