Office of Army Accounts, June 14, 1786 Sir, Your Letter of the 20th. May Ulto is received — The attestation of Capt Ballard ought to be [undecipherable] to be accompanied with the certificates of the Officers who were knowing to the loss of his paper, and also of some of the officers of the regiment regiment certifying their knowledge of the accuracy and integrity with which he conducted the business — I do not require such coroborating evidence from the least supposition that that what the Capt. has alledged is not just, but from a general rule that the in cases of this nature the whole evidence that which possibly can be procured ought to come before me, and that the certificates attestation of disinterested persons evidences always has more greater weight as have than that this of a person a person in his own case, let his character be however just & unexceptionable. I have attended to his account, and find that he is charged with 2982 Dols rd by him on the 19th of April 1779 for two Months pay advanced on account of the regiment, which sum he ought to have deducted from his next or another payment, which has not been above but I cannot find that this has been the case, he is therefore accountable for the Sum over & above the regimental pay. I find also that he agreeable to the numbered account that has been received the [undecipherable] of October 1779 [undecipherable] received from Mr. Harrison on the 15th of Augt 81 22,291 60/90 Dol on account which I suppose ought to be charged to him as it was I beleive an personal advance to him personally. I have searched the Musters and cannot find that Charges has been contained in the Rolls, and as he has not produced any other evidence of his services [I have not attempted his settlement] The certificate of the arrears due to Isaac Nicholson I have committed into the hands of Colo Blount who will deliver the same to you. June 14th 1786 To Major Richard Fenner Copied

Major Richard Fenner