as they propose to settle the accounts of General Haren and will want your assistance this business they inform me will not be entered on for some time at present they have nothing particular for your Inspection. I wrote you on the 23 and 30^th Ultimo, and sent the letters with their enclosures, directed to be left at the post office in hartford, which I hope you have Rec^d Inclosed are two letters one private which I have read. the other from M^r Dunscomb which I think proper to forward to you, as I think myself not authorised to answer In consequence of M^r Edes and Son letter I have wrote them, a copy of which is enclosed. — I am &c John Pierce Esq^r Jos: Howell --- D Gentlemen. New York December 7^th 1785. Your favor of the 30^th Ultimo was received this day. M^r Pierce being absent the business of the office is committed to my care this I thought necessary to premise in order to inform you that it was not M^r Pierces Intention to publish the act of Congress limiting the claims of the army" in every newspaper whereby the United States would have to account for such publication but left to the discretion of those printers who who published a news paper, not doubting they would oblige the public and a number of their Subscribers [Still existing] Subscribers, who I have reason to suppose have claims against the United States. I must therefore request on behalf of M^r Pierce, that you would not promise any recompence to the Several printers in your State for printing the advertisements, until the matter is made known to him — I have the Benj: Edes & Son. Honor to be y^r very H. Ser^t Howell J. --- Dear Sir. Hartford December 9^th 1785. I have received two letters from you one of about November 23^d and the other of the 30^th. and have written you two letters, one soon after my arrival and the other of November 30^th — being here on some business and the post going in a few days, I write to inform you of my welfare. In my last I requested you to inform me whether my pre-sence would be wanted as soon as I expected to return, and to consult the Board of Treasury on the subject. I was to have set out next monday, but if possible I wish to stay till the begining of January — in respect to Paulints Papers, I do not remember that they were left with me — if they were you would have found them — I suppose Haren has them, and is willing to involve me in trouble before he delivers them — the recruiting account of Olivier, I do not know what to say about them — I think a bounty of 40/ was given at the first raising an army — but under what authority — I do not recollect — he undoubtedly is able to shew the reasons on the