[from John Brownley rec. the 5 Aug: 1786 [undecipherable signature]] [To Wm. Pierce, Esqr. [undecipherable] on public Business] Richmond State Virg.^a 29^th July 1786 Sir 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 of, obliges me to presume to [undecipherable] trouble you with a letter with my acc. inclos'd. — My Reasons for taking this Liberty Sir is as follows. 1^st I made Application to M^r Duncomb 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 with 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 [strikethrough: undecipherable] with Respects to the method [strikethrough: undecipherable] by Congress, for the Liquidation of acc.^ts for military Service. — The [undecipherable] 4^th M^r Honey assistant to M^r Duncomb, Informs me there is no Eligible [undecipherable] of Getting Redress, but by an Application to you. — He farther tells me, He as Surgeon Mate, is not [strikethrough: allowed] the Commutation Settlement. You being more acquainted with [undecipherable] oblige me by letting [me] know the Certainty of the matter. The acc.^t I have the Honor to inclose to you Sir, is as accurate as I am Able of Understanding, and Should there be any Deficiency, or Inconsistency, be pleased to Rectify it. — and Beg the favour if Convenient you'd Transmit me the Settlement by in a letter, directed to — M.^r Duncomb 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 obd. & Very H.^ble Serv.^t Jo Brownley D^r Jo[hn] Brownley with the United States 1782 To Pay as a Surgeon's Mate on the H[undecipherable] Virg.^o from January 1. [undecipherable] 108 [43/90] [undecipherable] at 100 from 14 March to December 31 at 39 [6/90] [undecipherable] 4½ additional [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [504] [62/90] 1783 To Pay as [undecipherable] from January [to] May 1^st [undecipherable] 168 To Subsistence as [undecipherable] from January 1. 1783 [to] May 1. 1783 [undecipherable] By General Lincoln a bill of Exchange 90— By balance due 411 [83/90] [504] [80/90] Balance due in [undecipherable] 168 I do swear that the above account is just and true, and that I have accounted for all monies and stores that have received from the United States. Jo Brownley Sworn to before me this 29 July 1786 [undecipherable signature] Richmond [undecipherable] On the list of Prisoners of the Southern Army is Mentioned in the Column of Surgeons— Brown lee. taken 12 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^d Nov. 1785 [undecipherable signature] 9 March 18^th 1787