[Copy] Boston August 7^th 1786 Cap^t John Phelen who has been employed by me as a Confidential Clerk and who is strongly suspected has fraudulently taken a quantity of the Jeness Settlements Certificate Papers on which the debt of the United States is Certified, which will be of infinite disservice to the United States, as well as an injury to my Character. I have no doubt but that you will give every assistance in your power in apprehending the said Phelen and transmitting him to the Authority of the State of New York for his Tryals. The Bearer will have the honor to deliver this Letter M^r Chittenden Sam GR of Vermont Sir New York August 30^th 1786 On my return to Boston from New Hampshire I was informed that John Phelen the Confidential Clerk in my Office who is suspected to have stolen some of my Certificate Papers &to have Countersigled thereon the finances of the United States, was seen on the road which leads thro the New Hampshire grants and that he had intimated to some of his friends that he was going to Canada — which