[filing notation: from [undecipherable] Hodgdon / letter to [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] 25 July 1786 / No 20 / No 5] [address panel: undecipherable] Dear Sir, Philadelphia 26 Feb^ry 1786 Finding the time in which you are au- thorized to receive claims against the Public fast expiring- justice to Sundry Officers for whom I have full powers of adjustments induces me to ask the following questions in time to prevent the entire barment of their claims should they eventually be found just— has not Cap^t William Dawes of the Regiment of Artillery [undecipherable], From the circumstance of his having been regularly commissioned, serving five or six years under his commission, and remaining in service till long after the conclusion of the War, any claim for half pay or Commutation— General Lincoln and I believe [undecipherable] Knox also, have given their opinion that he has an uncontrovertable [undecipherable]— [undecipherable] he has one must his account [undecipherable] be immediately rendered— and in fine— to [undecipherable] must he apply— Supposing you are incompetent to the issue of it— Major Purkens has claims for [undecipherable: forage], wood &c— Do these come under the denomination of Military claims— or are they to be adjusted by the late Quarter Master General or the present Commissioner for the Departments In answer to these questions, and the pre- vention of the bars to any claims that may properly come before you to adjust— will be a [undecipherable] a favour by him, who is proud to Subscribe himself your Friend and very humble Servant [undecipherable] Esq— Sam^a Hodgdon