Letter to Mr Winslow Septr 8 1785 Copied [Editor’s note: inked trills of pen loops under the word “Copied”] Office of Army Accts

                             Army Off ^ NYork september 8h 1785

Dear Sir Samuel Hodgdon Esquire, among several ^ other final settlements; presented to the Office f[undecipherable] five certificates which appear to have been forged altogether except the paper + the printing, which he informs me he has remitted them to you to obtain them_ as some person in my Office must have imposed on me and violated the confidence placed in him + as the public interest as well as my own honor is at stake to detect a peculiar piece of villany, I have thought proper + request you to use every man to trace the hand, thro’ whom these certificates have passed up to the original proprietor, and to give me every information that may enable me to prosecute to open conviction every person criminally concerned in the transaction. For this purpose should you incur any expence & whatever reasonable charges you may make for your trouble, I will ingage to see it refunded. Enclosed is a a copy of the list left with me by Mr. Hodgdon. PS. If neither discovery can be made by you I wish the certificates may be Earmarked either to me or Mr Hodgdon, that as the hand writing may had some discrepency. M. Jno Winslow