Philadelphia May 27, 1787 Dear Sir When I left you I forgot to mention the letters which I expected from Mr. Peirce and as those for Mrs. Peirce are generally inclosed I wish you to give those and present Mrs. Peirce with those for her — be careful to send to the Post office every day and if any letter of consequence should arrive for me forward them here untill I shall request otherwise as the present situation of Mr. Howell will not admit of any determination many fixed when to return — I wish you to write and beg to be informed of every occurrence of the Office & also if the accounts of the No Carolina line are furnished to the Board — also if you mentioned to the Board my absence & the cause of the the accounts of Capt. Wells [undecipherable] have once received from Mr. Peirce cannot at present be entered — I wish you to present them to the Secretary at War and as I suppose the several Statements made by Mr. Peirce will meet with his approbation he will [page continues] grant warrants for the balances appearing due; which when done the amounts may be settled by Mr. O'Hara they are in the collection of the latter — let me hear from you. I am I believe me sincerely yours J. Howell Mr. Caleb Brewster --- Richmond May 28, 1787 Dear Sir Your letter of the 15^th is received — the stoppages from Absentees are founded on the nature of the case; a general order which directed it, and its being countenanced by several Resolutions of Congress. ther is a Resolve I think that all absentees money shall to be retained in the hands of the Public untill called for and I should conceive that the application of the Doctor for it would be his being apprehended and punished for deserting — rather than that he should receive any pay — I believe that the case of said Jur. Petitmen is as much in point as any — You had best inform the Board the amount of the money thus stopped, that they may know the consequence of an innovation, of this practice which is founded at least from the Custom of the [note: *vide*]