Jno. Howell Esq^r Philadelphia 23 December 1785 Dear Sir, I am once more under the necessity of troubling you to do some business for two of my particular friends — you may remember that Cap. Dunlop of Hayen's Regiment, has a recurring account to settle in your office, and being indebted to a M^r Dumpler of this place, he gave me an Order to receive the balance when settled, and to pay it to said Dumpler — the latter a few days ago imbarks me in a particular manner to enquire of you what prospect there was of its being settled, giving as a reason for putting you and me to this trouble, that he had laid out all his money, and not being well acquainted with you, he wishes me to write, as it will lose me he must receive it. The other matter as follows — Cap. Buchannan formerly of the 1^st Reg^t sent me a Power of attorney from a David Murray a Soldier in the 1^st Regiment, Col. Nicollet's Co. to receive his arrearge of Pay & depreciation — His original Journal settlement for 33^3/5 D^s I enclose, but although his discharge at Trenton, accompanies the power of Attorney — M^r Nicholson found a difficulty in settling his depreciation from his name not appearing on any of the muster rolls in his possession, he said that he must be entitled to it because you had allowed him the arrearge of Pay as a soldier, and because the discharge was genuine; and desires me to write to you for information respecting him and to inform you that the 33^3/5 dollars was posted in a M^r [undecipherable] Beall's book on the list of errors as an omission made out by an after settlement — your answer to this letter will Oblige — P.S. The Consolidateds have a small enquiry in the name [undecipherable] M. M^cCornell of Assembly, if you can, you may find here in other office an explanatory they adjourned the 22 of July — Gov^r Mayer & Dowd have resigned — Dale German, this plan is a good one provided the credit of the paper money can be supported, but I am fearful of the scheme, that is plain which M^r Morris has proposed, will take place, in the course of settling the [undecipherable] on the unsettled [undecipherable] but one that will appear in the [undecipherable]