Savannah March 29. 1785 Dear Sir I yesterday received your favor of Jany. 18 & 31 and of the [undecipherable] Instant - the former coming by Post prevented their arrival before the duplicates of them contained in the latter I am in the utmost astonishment respecting the counter =feit certificates the consequnce being material not only to the Public but my own Character, as they may inquire

injure the reputation of the true and give occasion to the malicious to blame my want of attention- I do not know at this distance what to advise you especially as your con= =duct can be regulated by the advise of others on the spot with you, and your own good sense, who know the parti= culars better than myself – indeed if you have not already taken any steps on the occasion, as my arrival will be within a month after you receive this, it will be well for you to wait for me . I shall bring on mo= =ney to discharge the arrears due to the Office, and in the mean time should you want mony (which I would have supplied you sooner had I received your private letter on the subject) if you apply to Mr. Burall he may be able to supply you with a small sum sufficient for your private purposes - I hope to hear from you before I leave Charleston which will be about the first of May I am sorry Congress did not think proper to Assist me respecting Captains Wylis & Jordan’s Commutation, as I cannot any more act now than before, and must therefore delay grant -ing it Jn. Pierce

Jos. Howell Jun.r