[182] [59] New York November [undecipherable]^th 1786 Your 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 all 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 Concerns of the United States is necessary as well as those of Accounts; John White Esq^r Sam. [undecipherable] New York, Nov. 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 drawn 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 intitled to only the nominal pay in the time of depreciation, the state of Pennsylvania having importation to make up the