Office of Army Accounts Dear Sir New York May 9^th 1787 Your letter (bearing no date) enclosing powers of attorney from Pierce Manning, and Captain William Mackay, was received this day. herewith you will receive a Certificate N^o 94772 for 90 ⁶⁰/₉₀ Dollars due the former — the claim of the latter cannot at present be admitted Unless by a Special act of Congress — as all army Claims are foreclosed by an an act of that honorable body, if not presented previous to the 1. August 1786. — I have examined the returns of prisoners filed in this office, and cannot find Captain Mackay among any of them, or any notice taken of him in the several exchanges that took place, from which I have every reason to suppose that he had been forgot or was not considered as a prisoner by the British Commissary — this was the case with Captain Potts of the 5^th Regiment who was wounded and taken prisoner the same day. and as a General exchange of prisoners took place in October 1780, particularly with those who were taken in 1778 &1777, I am of opinion that Captain Mackay must consider himself of the number and be satisfied with his being Continued and paid to the 1 January 1783 — Cap. Mackay was much more fortunate than many others in a Similar Situation who were under the necessity of retiring with a years pay and without any other emolument — however my my opinion need not prevent him from making an application to Congress if he thinks himself injured in a Settlement. — yours &c Gew^d Rich^d Humpton Jos: Howell J. --- Dear Sir New York May 10. 1787 Your favor of the 30^th ultimo with its enclosures was received the 8^th Instant the one for c W. O. was delivered agreably to your request. a curious claim has been made by a M^r John Wait of Boston, for the pay due Sundry deserters of the Massachusetts line which it seems he purchased at Camp, and from the circumstance of their not having deserted until late in the year 1783, or at least until after the treaty of peace, he urges the propriety and Justice of his claim and has interested M^r Gorham in favor of his application which is now before the Board of Treasury — I have examined your instructions from M^r Morris, and do not find any clause in them that relates to this business. I therefore suppose you have been governed by some Standing Resolution of Congress respecting forfeitures by desertion, which I do not recollect when it was passed; I have not countenanced in the least this precedent, as it would open a door for a multiplicity of applications and involve this office in a Labyrinth of business, not to serve the public but only to answer the views of Speculating traders. — The ordinance respecting the five Commissioners to be appointed, passed in Congress yesterday a