May 1781 when Memorial was negatived by the said Legislature. Whereupon your Commissioner begs leave to submit the propriety and justice of refering the Claims of Cap. Stevens for pay and depreciation to one of the Officers. of the United States instead of the reference made in the Act of May 25. 1781. to the State in whose line he served at the time of his becoming an Hostage. All Which is Humbly Submitted Charles Thompson Secretary to Congress. Sir, Office of Army Accounts. June 26. 1786. I have to Acknowledge your two Letters of the 12. & 19.^th Instant. which together with [they] others rec'd from you on the same subject. I have Inclosed to Congress and again requested a direction with respect to your Claims Cap. John Sullivan I am Sir [JP] Dear Sir NYork. June 26. 1786. When M^r Sullivan applied to me for his Settlement I found from the Opinion and advice of most of the Gentlemen of Congress that it was necessary that his Claims should be refered to them - I accordingly Wrote to the President of Congress a Letter of which the Inclosed is a Copy. and I had not a Suspicion that this Application excited his resentment, untill the 5.^th Instant. I received a Letter from him couched in terms of the greatest exasperation and insult. I however took no other Notice of his Letter than to refer him to Congress on which he has since written two other equally insolent and abusive Letters. the whole Correspondance between him and me together with the Letters. which have passed between us respecting him. I have this day laid before Congress with a Letter of which I send you a Copy. my Conduct towards him has been regulated by what I thought to be my duty and nothing that he can say or do will cause me to Swarve from that Line. I have given my Sentiments to Congress that I think him entitled to his pay. and I believe that this he granted him. but I am doubtfull what will be their directions in respect to his Commutation. I am Sir [JP.] John Nicholson Esq.^r Sir. Office of Army Accounts June 26.^th 1786. I did myself the honor on the 26. of Oct. last to request the direction of Congress how I should Conduct myself in respect to the Claims for Pay & Commutation of M^r. John Sullivan, who was an Officer of the Cavalry Supposed to have been concerned in the revolt of the Pennsy^a. Troops, I.