New York May 6 1786 Dear Sir Your favors of April 22d & 29th your letter 18th of March with its inclosures is arrived — in respect to the specie subsistence still due to the Maryland and other Southern Officers, I am at at a loss how to conduct myself, but as there is no money or prospect of any I presume there is no necessity at present either to admit the whole on the attestation of the officers exclusively or totally to refuse the allowance, we have met with so many instances of deceptions that I should rather wish not to admit claims which may be made by so such considerable numbers without some further check to their accounts than an attestation. I have already informed you that Mr Mifflin will not come on to Annapolis, I wish you therefore to forward there by your Papers by Mrs. White. The Forage accounts are settled with the Forage Officer Department or rather the Quarter Masters that existed at the time & place [undecipherable] place where it ought to have been drawn, as the knowledge of the quantity drawn and of the settlements made can only rest with them. I have charged Lieut Baker with the advance made by the state as you requested.

May 6th 1786 John White Esq Copied

John White Esqr