[156] [Dray 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 certificates of Col. Pickering are not cancelled in this Office, and that you have reminded the one sent — appointing the Running Commissioners for this department would have done it. As to the application, I am informed that he is not authorised to do it — Mr. Dearing's is clearly of promise, that you can be comes under the state of all Public, as the head of the debt is so pay, and becomes due January 1^st January 1790. Mr Dearing has exhibited a charge in a gross sum of [undecipherable: $133.75] Lawful money for Clothing delivered your regiment between the months of April & October 1780 — can you give any information whether the same was deducted from the pay of the regiment, if it has been accounted for — as 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 [Samuel] Chambers was credited by him, in our account examined given in Dec^r 180, there appeared a large remainder from Col. Chamber's which balance has not been paid into the Treasury of the United States; consequently the account is not closed, which must prevent me from making out a certificate for the pay of three months — in the mean time this is a private transaction, and which hardly admits the existing; be sure, knowing if the balance had been paid at the time the amount was examined, you would have only received the nominal sum, about five dollars grace. This induced me on this top the regimental account, to obtain 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 [Samuel] Chambers, I think it would be to your advantage. Joseph Howell Gen^l Edward Hand