New York, December 15, 1786

Sir

Your letter of the 17th July last covering an account for expenses on command (undeciperable) was duly received. The monies you advanced for including the soldiers when on their march to join the Regiment I willing to allow provided you make it (undecipherable) that no part of the same were received from the public on account o substinance and that no rations were drawn for them during the time the expenses (amounting to £26.10 sterling) between the 1 October (undecipherable) and December 14 following being as is expressed for recruiting and collecting (undecipherable) appears to be improper as Col Shurburne drew the subsistance of the officers while on the recruiting service and on settlement of his accounts has produced your receipt for the sum of 28.14 being so much due you while on the recruiting service - the latter and former services appear to have been performed at the same time therefore payment cannot be granted twice for one duty.

I am (undecipherable) L Pierce

Luiet Seth Chaplin