[in top right corner] 265 New York March 23d 1787 Sir Some time in the year 1781 I transmitted to Joseph Clay Esqr deputy Paymaster General a sum of money for the supply of the army, which money was left by the Escort in the hands of Mr William S Alexander at Charlotte in No Carolina, a copy of whose receipt for the same is inclosed and it appearing by Mr Clays representation and his account which is also inclosed that the sum of fifty seven thousand six hundred dollars of this money, consisting of the Bills emitted by the States of Virginia and Maryland under the resolution of Congress of March 18th 1780 never came into his possession but still remains in the hands of Mr. Alexander unaccounted for – and which Mr. Clay has informed me is now in the hands of Mr. Thomas Commander Russell in Charleston I am therefore directed by the Board of Treasury to request you to adopt such measures as shall appear to you most safe, speedy and afficasious, for getting possession of this money which when obtained you will please to inform me of by different conveyances [in the lower right corner] as [in upper left corner] 266 as early as possible and of the amount of the emission received by you of each of these States —– I herewith enclose you also an order on Mr. Russell for the purpose —– Should the order of Mr. Clay be necessary for you to obtain the money you will please to write to him in Savannah for that purpose, who has already been requested by me to give it J. Pierce John Neuville Esq Loan Officer