Richmond, May 15^th 1785 [undecipherable: address line] Dear Sir, Your letter of the 1^st Instant with its enclosures is arrived. I am so much engaged in the States business that I have not attended to Doctor Bonds Claim sufficiently to form an opinion on it — I am doing some other business for him with the State and will write to him on both when I have completed this. I rather think that his pay ought to be extended to Jan^y 1785. I do not well recollect what opinion I had formed respecting General Putnam's demands — but this I remember that it appeared to me that he must be charged with the 3,000 Dollars he gave his note for to M^r. Bedlow or so much of it as is unaccounted for — it did not appear to me clearly that he was entitled to his rations because he did no actual duty & his pay & Commutation appeared a sufficient Compensation to him. Pay I considered as the equivalent to services & Rations to expenses in that service which he could not be at while at home — It occurs to me however that the plea struck me that his confinement by sickness might make a difference tho' I believe it did not in his case — You must take the opinion of the Treasury or Comptroller and do as you think proper, remembering in case the allowance is made that there must be clear proof that he drew no rations during the time. [strikethrough: I have received also [undecipherable]] your letter of the 19^th Ult^o. — I conclude that the duplicates to Gen^l. Huntingtons papers are as good as originals. his case I suppose must be referred to Congress — I wish you to lay the copy of M^r. Neuville's letter before the Board of Treasury and request information from the Board if they have heard of Alexander and where he is — in the mean time as I am now but a little more than an hundred miles from the place where he acted as Quartermaster I shall endeavour to find him out. I want from you copies of his receipts to the express and of M^r. Clays attested account current with him — you will find them in my letter to M^r. Neuville — or to the Board of Treasury when I first informed them of this money. — It is uncertain when my business here will be closed; my compliments to M^r. Howell — Since writing the above I immagine that I have got a clue to find out where the man is who has or has had the Public money in his hands which was lodged with Alexander, I wish you therefore to advise with the Board, and obtain such legal authority as will enable me to prosecute Alexander in case I find it necessary to his original receipt is in M^r. Nourse's Office among my vouchers. Clay's attested account current is among his papers in M^r. Nourse's Office; your immediate attention to this may be of importance I am &c J. Pierce