omplain a fe[w] days ago. I send satisfactory information of the mean after [undecipherable] a misfortune late of his [undecipherable] — A d[undecipherable] from Ch[arle]sto[n] and When she could not sto[p] however the [undecipherable] expected him shortly in Town — I am fearful that the [undecipherable] will never find a relic of the money, unless you by some of your connexions, can be a [undecipherable] of the means and give the information to [undecipherable] the answer. Y[ours] &c [signature] Gentlemen Richmond June 1^st 1797 The business on which I am engaged, will take a good deal of time & [undecipherable] to [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] is [undecipherable] recognized and it appears that [undecipherable] is a complaint accompanied by the [undecipherable] document and its different branches, from the original [undecipherable], which the[undecipherable] word of them, or information is [undecipherable] demanded. It will require to form one tolerable [idea?] of the expenditures of the Stores, as the vouchers for which are in the abstract [undecipherable] [undecipherable], my reason[s] for proceeding on the [Business] in this manner, are that I may form a complete idea of each branch of expenditures, compare the different prices of [payments?], the consumption of the [undecipherable], with that of the [undecipherable] of men, and to be informed in general of every [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] there in the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] or the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] I [took?] the accounts affected [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. Otherwise to better [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of the affairs of [undecipherable] from which [the] expenses were — That the [principles] by which I am guided, on each head of expenditure will so clearly [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to the justice and [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] or thrown in the principles. And of this I am [undecipherable] willing [undecipherable] and to be made out [undecipherable] Copies and to [undecipherable] myself which might be done by a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] hereafter to have one [undecipherable] my [undecipherable] over me or [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] of the [public interest?] in the [undecipherable] which would greatly [forward] my return — M^r Howell my assistant has written to me requesting my application to [undecipherable] Board for obtaining for [them] an appointment as one of the Five Commissioners for settling & arranging the accounts of the States under the late [undecipherable] of Congress. [He] [undecipherable] a wish to see a man of his [probity?] [undecipherable] meet with the Public approbation, and he has in addition to [these] the recommendation of having served about ten years, in the Public Offices, where accounts of the [nature] of those now to be settled for the States have almost daily passed [undecipherable] his [undecipherable]. But I cannot suppose that