[156] Pay Office Dear Sir, New York, Dec^r 15, 1785 In answer to your letter of the 11^th Instant, I have to inform you that the paymasters of Col. Pickering are not concern'd in this Office, and that you have rendered the account — appointing the running Commissioners for this department would have done it. I made the application but am informed that he is not authorized to do it — Mr. Denning is clearly of opinion, that your Certificate comes under the statute of M^r Park, as the funds of the debt is for pay, and becomes due January 1^st January 1790. Mr. Denning has exhibited a charge against you of $138.75 Lawful money for Clothing advanced your regiment between the months of April & October 1776 — can you give any information within your own delegates from the pay of the regiment & it has been ascertained — bring your 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 Lieut. Chambers now creates by him, on our account recomputed given, in Dec^r 1780, there appeared a large receipt from Chambers which distance has not been heard with the Treasury of the United States; consequently the account is not closed which would prevent me from making you a desperate or three pay of three months — it was I ever thought it a private transaction, and which hardly admits the crediting the owner knowing if the balance had been paid at the time the amount was recompenced, you would have only received the nominal sum; about four dollars I recal. This induced me on settling the regimental account, to retain 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 Lieut^t Chambers, I think it would be to your advantage. Joseph Howell Gen^l Edward Hand --- [155] Lancaster, December 28, 1785 Dear Sir, Upon settling my accounts of pay & depreciation with Major Brown & Captain Beatty, there was stoppages in due of four or five hundred dollars which of the two accounts present were I but the Books will inform you, which Major Brown informs me was by your orders — now you being the only person that I can rely upon, to obtain the same for me, and that honor my affairs with the public, and that I am not indebted to them, rather did they frame any debts of my contracting on the use of my company or otherwise which I have some been frequently found by past experience — You were the person who settled with me at Trenton after and then what my sundry claims being obliged to take imprest money, it being at that time safest for one, for which I was and am obliged to pay said and more for found — You recollect I made to you, on the line before our march to Virginia, when the subject, requesting you to receive a depreciation for me on the same and received an answer from you which I confess to freshen your memory, in time and the multitude of business might have since found — I also enclose you settlements and receipts of all other accounts & monies I had with the Public, expecting that you will draw the amount of the stoppages above mentioned together with the interest, and send them indented to me by some safe hands, as I am it indicted at Captⁿ Duttens ans Zapping's great door, to M^rs Duncans front street, to be forwarded by Major Brown or Beatty — or here you will be most heartily welcome at present, and if you can possibly do any thing else in my favor, I am very confident you will use your utmost endeavors to serve one who has sacrificed his time, constitution, industry, and almost his life, in defence of his country — the favor shall be thankfully acknowledged.