the registers filed in This Office I find that [underline: James Armstrong] was a Colonel in the North Carolina line and received the Certificate N° 89362) you make mention of from M^r Ebenezer Jackson As^t Commissioner for that State it being a part of his Commutation — Cap^t Armstrong of Lee's Legion was settled with for his Commutation at Philadelp^a and received Three Certificates N° 67138. 39 & 67440 of one thousand dollars each those Certificates were indorsed by me as was generally the case of Individual settlements when they were of the Quota of Pennsylvania: I wish you may soon be enabled to give me the information requested in my letter which remains unanswered as it is much wanted — I am &^c Joseph Howell J^r John Nicholson Esq^r New York November 30. 1786. Dear Sir The enclosed Letter to Col^o Wood M^r Pierce requests you will be pleased to forward by some safe conveyance as soon as possible — I beg to remind you of your Promise of forwarding the charges against Col^o Becker Major Benedict &c &c they are greatly wanted consequently much wished for by your Obed^t Serv^t J Howell Jun^r J^no Nicholson Esq^r Wilmington November 31. 1786. Sir Your friendship in acquainting me thro my (Brother) the reason why stoppages were made in my final settlements I shall ever esteem as a mark of your Goodness — with respect to the four Months pay I rec^d for Cap^t Wilson's Company I expected Cap^t J^no Alexander had accounted for in his settlement of Accounts as I am almost convinced I made a settlement with him for the same as he became Paymaster of our Regiment at that time —. And at the time the Revolt of our line when the Troops were discharged at Trenton I was ordered an express to Head Quarters my Portmanteau was sent on to Philadelphia, which contained my book of Accounts and all my Papers none of which I have never seen since. I have made out my account as you directed as far as I could having that of Mill's Blanks as