the Company is to Pay 1,000,000 down & the rest in Instalments every six months and to be at the charge of surveying — Since M^r Lewis departure things have been hurriedly compiled Cap. Beatty's accounts are just on the close. I has been the most complex piece of work I ever undertook — Capt. Compy Paymaster to the Massachusets Troops and the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] Regiment are now waiting their accounts I expect from the completion of them will keep me until your arrival, which I hope will not be postponed to a longer time than you are obliged to mention — Jn. Lurie Esq^r Sam^d Howell [signature] Richmond March 23^d, 1787 Dear Sir As you have drawn from me every Paper that could elucidate a contingent fate of an Affair, I am unable now to plead the cause of the Widow of the late Lieu^t Steverson if Justified right the Papers I sent you appear fully sufficient in my eye how they may be weighed by you is another matter. I think they likewise prove that he (died died in the service of the United States if so he has an entitle to Pay until his Death and either seven years half Pay or Commutation — You could not expect any information from Col^o Carrington, who knew almost as little of the Regiment after it went to the southward and all he has told me that he had no connexion with or knowledge of it as an Officer after he was appointed D^y Q. Master neither can you expect any from the Muster Rolls as M^r Steverson was taken prisoner the 2. May 1781 Exchange Nov. 1782 & perhaps deranged January 1783 as with many other unfortunate fellows, totally forgotten — Whatever may be the reasoning of M^r Comptroller on the propriety of withholding a decision I can tell him he will not get a single Paper of my late Office without one that Posterity may be easy on that now — In order to assist you fully with the settlement of this Affair, I send you herewith the credit side of his account as settled with the State Auditor. the "amount audited" I suppose must mean the Copies of Pay Rolls with receipt annexed. [symbol] and the actual ones of the Officers, which are now in my Office and are of those I mean to send with the Musters in the hands of Pub. Officer March 25, 1787 — I have just received yours of the 13^th Instant and shall apply to Colonel Meriwether in your name for the Muster Rolls and if I obtain them they shall accompany the Pay Rolls &c. which I mean to send by the same conveyance. The Loan Office embarrasses in forwarding the [undecipherable] of Old emissions received from us — It is totally impossible for me to say when M^rs Pendleton Bill will be paid as I am possessed of the like for my salary from June last and upon which I cannot get a farthing given as the Loan Office has not Received any from the Treasurer as soon as [undecipherable] payment I will send you a bill for the amount. I have been told that the arrears of Subsistence is not to be paid — is it possible — upon what principles is it supported, what precedent [undecipherable] it. Or what act can justify the Dead. I may go too far without a Certainty that it is not to be paid — all that could be said would not be too much (receive reason gives with at the thoughts, and affords plenty of room for future Expectations but let them look out who have the watch — I have reflected on the last Paragraph of your letter and upon measuring up, think I had better given a hint of opinion than insist on this much I may say that almost not denied well [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the former [undecipherable] & rules as sanity at [undecipherable] or liberality & [undecipherable] motion as not to be the prevailing ground of action, for as I have been said — The Advance [undecipherable] Reviews drawn from this state have been great, Constant and Liberal and the only argument against an allowance as too hostile I can hope to [undecipherable] With this I send the order of George Mosley for Pay due him with a receipt on the back — you will be pleased to send me the Certificates due him by [undecipherable] right as he is much in want of the Interest — You will need to [undecipherable] the names of John Peasoner, John [undecipherable] and John [undecipherable] from any [undecipherable] also Captain [undecipherable] who has sent you to know — and you [undecipherable] sending the