[156] [Pay Office] Dear Sir: New York, Dec 15, 1785 In answer to your letter of the 11^th Instant, I have to inform you that the pay Accounts of Col: Pickering are not closed in this Office and that you have rendered the on rent — appointing the Issuing Commissaries for the department would have done it. Sooner the application, but am informed that he is not authorised to do him — Mr Downing's clearly of passage, that you can perhaps comes under the State of Mr Pick as one fourth of the debt is to pay, and becomes due Samnion 1^st January 1790. Mr Downing has exhibited a charge a gamma sum of $388.75 Lawful money on Clothing advanced your regiment between the months of April & October 1780 — can you give my information within on our Accounts from the pay of the regiment & if it has been accounted for — I beg you answer as soon as possible as the Books Stand open and while so the charge must appear against you. The three Months pay drawn for you by Ebam Chambers was creditor by him on account remained from in Dec 1780. there appeared a larger amount due from Col Chambers which distance had not been paid into the Treasury of the United States consequently the account is by not closed which would prevent me from making you a certificate for the pay of three months — we have been thought it a private transaction, and which & loudly admits the discharge to come, knowing if the balance had been paid at the time the amount was remmitted, you would have only reserved the nomimal sum, about five dollars Grace — This indeed me on his regimental account to return from him the sum of five hundred dollars which sum is still in the hands of the public — if you could settle this matter with Colonel Chambers, I think it would be to your advantage. Joseph Howell Gen^t Edward Hand