[182] New York November [?]^th 1786 Y[our] letter of the 4 Instant, has come to hand. I can with cheerfulness give my approbation of Your integrity, zeal and assiduity in Office, and from your long acquaintance with business of a [Public?] nature I can with Confidence recommend you as a Person better calculated than any other for a Station wherein a knowledge of the general business of the United States is necessary as well as that of Accounts John White Esq^r I am [undecipherable] New York, Nov^r 23. 1786 Sir In answer to your letter of the 18^th Instant, I must inform you that your Claim cannot be taken up except by the direction of Congress and that it is subject to some difficulties, the time of your being made a prisoner and last drew pay and rations is not ascertained by any vouchers, and the date of your exchange as appears by the records of the Commissary of Prisoners, was on the 27^th of September 1777 much earlier than you state in your account. you will be entitled to only the nominal pay in the time of depreciation, the state of Pennsylvania having importation to make up the [undecipherable]