[from John Brownley] [rec: the 5 Aug: 1786] [undecipherable] [Addressed:] M^r. Pierce, Esq^r. [Paymaster?] [General?] [undecipherable] on public Business Richmond State Virg.^a 29^th July 1786 Sirs I have not the Honor of being acquainted with you, but a matter of Worth any thing which no Good Citizen belonging to the United States have a Right to doubt it, obliges me to presume to far to trouble you with a letter, with my acc.^t inclos'd. — My Reasons for taking this Liberty Sir, is as follows. 1^st I made Application to M^r. Dunscomb who is appointed to Settle Continental acc.^ts and he informs me he was limited to a certain time, and that has Expired long ago, in consequence of which he Could do Nothing [undecipherable] it. 2^d I Have Apply'd as soon as possible Could and before the Expiration of the time limited by Congress for a Settlement and Liquidation of military acc.^ts — 3^d The principal, is, that I've lived for three years past in a remote part of N.^o Carolina, where We See a News paper Never but by mere Chance, and was only made acquainted of the [undecipherable] with Respects to the method [undecipherable] by Congress, for the Liquidation of acc.^ts for military Services. — The [undecipherable] 4^th M^r. Honey assistant to M^r. Dunscomb, Informs me, there is no Eligible [undecipherable] of Getting Redress, but by an Application to you. — he farther, tells me, We as Surgeon Mate, is not [undecipherable] the Commutation Settlement. You being more acquainted will obliges me by letting I know. the Certainty of this matter. The acc.^t I have the Honor to inclose to you Sir, is as accurate as I am [undecipherable] of Understanding, and Should there be any deficiency or inconsistency, be pleased to rectify it. — and beg the favour if Convenient Could Transmit me the Settlement [undecipherable] in a letter, directed to — M^r. Dunscomb Richmond. Should this Request be inconvenient please to let me know your Sentiments and Determination on the Subject. I have the Honor to be Sir, Y.^r most ob.^d & Very H.^le Serv.^t Jo: Brownley [me] [Enclosure — Account] [undecipherable] Brownley The United States [undecipherable] John Brownley 1782 To pay as a Surgeon^s Mate on the [undecipherable] Doll.^s Virg. Reg.^t from January 1. to [undecipherable] 108 43/90 [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] additional [undecipherable] [undecipherable] from 19. March to December 31. at [undecipherable] 396 16/40 4[undecipherable] additional [undecipherable] 1783 To pay as d.^o from January [undecipherable] May 1.^st 504 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in levy appearances To Subsistence as d.^o from January 1. to [undecipherable] May 1. 1783 168 Contra [undecipherable] Gen.^l Lincoln: a Bill of Exchange 90— [undecipherable] Balance due 411 63/20 Dft: 504 [undecipherable] Balance due in livres 168 I do swear that the above account is [undecipherable] and true, and that I have accounted for all monies and stores that have [undecipherable] from the United States Sworn to before me [undecipherable] July 1786 Richmond James [undecipherable] Jo: Brownley [Administrative note:] On the list of prisoners of the Southern army is Mentioned in the Column of Surgeons — Brownlee. taken 12^th May 1780 I suppose the within Named to be the man — and was Returned as a Surgeon by Mistake — he would therefore be entitled to a Settlement up to 1 May 1783. being the time of his exchange, had this claim been Made prior to 1 Aug 1786. but as it was Not, he is precluded by the Limitation Act of Congress of 2 Nov.^r 1785 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] March 18[undecipherable] Jan.^y 1787