Annapolis April 1. 1785 Dear Sir I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 12 Ult. and thank you heartily for the trouble you, and your Friend Purcell have taken.. I will do myself the pleasure of writing to him shortly on the subject of the music, however I shall say in the mean time, it was well chosen, and well bought. I have now to address you upon a very serious subject When

When we were so ernest about obtaining the Muster Rolls of the German Regiment, it was upon a suspicion that several Frauds had been committed upon this State with respect to depreciation_ but before I describe them, I will inform you that the State of Maryland passed an Act of Assembly granting Depreciation to all Officers and Soldiers of the Quota of that State, who had served three years in the Continental Army- consequently, that part of the German Regiment, which was called the four Companies of Maryland, having faithfully served; became entitled to receive the same. The event of an Examination of the Muster Rolls for 70 & 80 has shewn, that our suspicions were not without foundation- for, of two Hundred and sixty, who have received Depreciation, there are forty-seven, as by the list enclosed, who are not upon the Maryland Musters_ Twelve of the Forty-seven, are on the Pennsylvania Musters, and the other Thirty, however, discharges were produced, purporting that the persons mentioned in each of them, served three years faithfully, and discharged for the most part by Cap.t Com.t Bunner in the month of July 1779 I have en= closed one of the discharges, which has the appearance of having been written at a much later date, that what is expressed in it_ We can trace out the Persons who

who presented them here, and obtained the Certificates, but we want to find out whether Cap.t Bunner, whose signa= =ture is to the greatest part of them, really did sign them, or not. There has been a most vilainous combination somewhere; and it has been exited by a Knowledge that the State had no Muster Rolls, and generally issued upon Discharges. Now if Bunner is within your reach, I shall esteem it a favor, if you will take another Man of Credit along with you, and enquire of him, whether the signature on the discharge now sent is his - if he a= vows it, then I shall be obliged to you for your Deposition, and that of the person with you; that he acknowledged it, which Depositions, with the necessary forms of Office, please to transmit to me - if on the contrary, Bunner denies it to be his, please to inform him of so much of the Transaction, as you may chose to disclose, and obtain his affidavit setting forth, that he did not sign the same or any of the Discharges in the names of those, or any of them on the enclosed List. - I need not caution you, about using your utmost address in endeavouring to lay open this scene of Inequity-your own love of jus= =tice, and the public station you fill, will I dare say by sufficient incentives to your exertion in this dark Business ~~ Pray had the state of Penn= =sylvania

72/ Pray has the State of Pennsylvania granted Depreci=

=ation to their three Years men discharged before the 10th April 1780. - if it has, and continues to do so, it will be proper that the Comptroller have the list I send, and examine it with his issues. _ Be pleased to procure the favor of Mr. Nicholson to furnish such remarks as may be necessary, and transmit them to me as soon as possible. The expence attending the above Business I will pay you. with much regard I am C. Richmond Joseph Howell Jun.r