Mount Prospect Near Carlisle My Dear Howell February 22^d 1787 In June last I requested the favor of Col. Magaw to call on you for my certificate which was detained in your Office on a presumption that I might be indebted to the United States and I can assure you I had not the least doubt but it would get it as I dare thereof from home an Account signed Joseph Howell on £322.15.3 and informed me that I could not have my certificate until they would account for that money This information put me much to a stands believing that the Receipts which I had taken for the payment of that money to be lost but on searching my old papers found the greater part of the Receipts for the money I am charged with and will enclose them to you the Receipts of the men present are all sent you, but the absentees Receipts on separate papers and them I can't find but I do assure you on my Honor that I never issued a farthing for a man of my Company but what they got the first opportunity and many of them got a great deal more from me than was drew for them I would be much oblieged to you to credit